Proteomic analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans

Methods Mol Biol. 2009:519:145-69. doi: 10.1007/978-1-59745-281-6_10.

Abstract

Proteomic studies of the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans have recently received great attention because this animal model is a useful platform for the in vivo study of various biological problems relevant to human disease. In general, proteomic analysis is carried out in order to address a specific question with respect to differential changes in proteome expression under certain perturbed conditions. In this chapter, we focus on gel-based proteomic analysis of C. elegans subjected to two specific stress conditions during development: induction of the dauer state for whole body protein expression and a temperature shift for egg protein expression. Utilizing these differently perturbed C. elegans protein samples, two-dimensional electrophoresis and differential in-gel electrophoresis methods have led to the discovery of remarkable aspects of the worm's biology. We also provide numerous details about the technical points and protocols necessary for successful experimentation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / chemistry*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / physiology
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / analysis*
  • Egg Proteins / analysis
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional / instrumentation
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional / methods
  • Humans
  • Isoelectric Focusing / instrumentation
  • Isoelectric Focusing / methods
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Proteome / analysis*
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Egg Proteins
  • Proteome