In-Plate and In-Gel Assays for the Assessment of Proteasome Activity in Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

This chapter describes two methods for the study of proteasome function in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). The first method, referred to as "in-plate activities," provides a quantitative measurement of proteasome activities in C. elegans lysates by means of a kinetic reaction in a 96-well plate. The second one, referred to as "in-gel activities," involves the separation of C. elegans protein lysates in a native polyacrylamide gel and the assessment of the activity of each proteasome form. Downstream immunoblotting also allows the semi-quantitative assessment of proteasome assembly. This chapter outlines two detailed protocols along with helpful schematics and representative results that will facilitate researchers to replicate both protocols accurately and reproducibly.

Keywords: C. elegans; Native-PAGE; Proteasome; Proteasome activity; Proteasome assembly.