Murray State University
Food, Sex, And Pam-1: A Novel Role for a Fertility-Regulating Aminopeptidase in Food Sensation of C. Elegans
Institution
Murray State University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Chris Trzepacz
Abstract
Homozygous mutations in a conserved aminopeptidase, pam-1, result in reduced adult fertility and a high incidence of embryonic lethality in the model nematode C. elegans. We have also casually observed that in contrast to wild-type N2 worms, which restrict their movements to the area occupied by their bacterial food source, pam-1 worms tend to wander from the bacterial lawn and occasionally leave their culture plates altogether and perish. The current investigation seeks to quantify this behavior. Populations of starved larval N2 and homozygous pam-1 worms were localized on plates at a position adjacent to the food source and assayed 24 hours later for 1) the total number of worms remaining on each plate; 2) the total number of worms localized to the food source; 3) the total number of worms not localized to the food source. An additional count was made on the fourth day following the initial placement. A pilot study confirms that when compared to N2 worms, mutant pam-1 worms show significantly reduced ability to remain localized not only to the food source but to the culture plate as well. This difference may be indicative of a compromised pam-1-dependent chemotaxis response. We are currently expanding the pilot study both in number and in scope to include additional mutants that are believed to genetically interact with pam-1.
Food, Sex, And Pam-1: A Novel Role for a Fertility-Regulating Aminopeptidase in Food Sensation of C. Elegans
Homozygous mutations in a conserved aminopeptidase, pam-1, result in reduced adult fertility and a high incidence of embryonic lethality in the model nematode C. elegans. We have also casually observed that in contrast to wild-type N2 worms, which restrict their movements to the area occupied by their bacterial food source, pam-1 worms tend to wander from the bacterial lawn and occasionally leave their culture plates altogether and perish. The current investigation seeks to quantify this behavior. Populations of starved larval N2 and homozygous pam-1 worms were localized on plates at a position adjacent to the food source and assayed 24 hours later for 1) the total number of worms remaining on each plate; 2) the total number of worms localized to the food source; 3) the total number of worms not localized to the food source. An additional count was made on the fourth day following the initial placement. A pilot study confirms that when compared to N2 worms, mutant pam-1 worms show significantly reduced ability to remain localized not only to the food source but to the culture plate as well. This difference may be indicative of a compromised pam-1-dependent chemotaxis response. We are currently expanding the pilot study both in number and in scope to include additional mutants that are believed to genetically interact with pam-1.