Induction of Germline Apoptosis in Caenorhabditis elegans

Benjamin Lant; W. Brent Derry

doi:10.1101/pdb.prot080192

Induction of Germline Apoptosis in Caenorhabditis elegans

Benjamin Lant1 and
W. Brent Derry2,3

¹Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada;
²Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A1, Canada

Abstract

RNA interference (RNAi) is an incredibly powerful tool for rapid and efficient knockdown of gene expression. This technology can be used to induce apoptosis in the germline of Caenorhabditis elegans. Genotoxic stressors such as ionizing radiation (IR), ultraviolet light, chemical mutagens (e.g., N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea [ENU]), and DNA cross-linking reagents can also be used to stimulate apoptosis. These approaches, described here, combined with the powers of in vivo imaging methods, should keep C. elegans apoptosis researchers busy for several years, sorting out how various signaling pathways influence life and death decisions in this organism.