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Biochemistry JoVE (Open Access) Citable · DOI

Assaying β-amyloid Toxicity using a Transgenic C. elegans Model

DOI: 10.3791/2252-v
What you'll learn
  • ✓ Prepare synchronized C. elegans populations for reproducible paralysis assays.
  • ✓ Induce β-amyloid transgene expression and measure paralysis phenotype.
  • ✓ Quantify Aβ toxicity and evaluate potential therapeutic treatments.
Protocol

The intensely studied nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans can be transgenically engineered to express the human β-amyloid peptide (Aβ). Induced expression of Aβ in C. elegans muscle leads to a rapid, reproducible paralysis phenotype that can be used to monitor treatments that modulate Aβ toxicity.

Difficulty
intermediate
Total time
~3–5 days (including worm synchronization and induction)
Model organism
Caenorhabditis elegans (transgenic β-amyloid expressing strain)
Biosafety
BSL-1

Steps

1
Prepare nematode growth media plates for assay

Prepare standard agar plates with appropriate growth medium to support C. elegans culture and allow controlled induction of the β-amyloid transgene for paralysis monitoring.

▶ 02:51
2
Generate age-synchronized worm populations

Isolate and synchronize C. elegans at equivalent developmental stages to ensure reproducible and comparable paralysis phenotypes across experimental conditions.

▶ 05:34
3
Induce transgene and conduct paralysis assay

Trigger β-amyloid expression in synchronized worms and systematically observe and record the onset and progression of muscle paralysis as a quantifiable readout of Aβ toxicity.

▶ 08:04
4
Analyze and interpret representative results

Evaluate paralysis kinetics and phenotypic data to assess Aβ toxicity and determine the efficacy of potential therapeutic interventions.

▶ 11:48
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