Sleep is required to consolidate odor memory and remodel olfactory synapses.

Animals with complex nervous systems demand sleep for memory consolidation and synaptic remodeling. Here, we show that, although the Caenorhabditis elegans nervous system has a limited number of neurons, sleep is necessary for both processes. In addition, it is unclear if, in any system, sleep collaborates with experience to alter synapses between specific neurons and whether this ultimately affects behavior.

Real-time immuno-polymerase chain reaction in a 384-well format: detection of vascular endothelial growth factor and epidermal growth factor-like domain 7.

Immuno-polymerase chain reaction (immuno-PCR) combines the specificity of antibodies with the amplification power of PCR to detect low levels of proteins. Here, we describe the development of a 384-well immuno-PCR method that uses streptavidin coated on a PCR plate to capture complexes of biotinylated capture antibody, antigen, and DNA-labeled detection antibody. Unbound molecules are removed by a wash step using a standard plate washer.

Expression of an expanded CGG-repeat RNA in a single pair of primary sensory neurons impairs olfactory adaptation in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is a severe neurodegenerative disorder that affects carriers of premutation CGG-repeat expansion alleles of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene; current evidence supports a causal role of the expanded CGG repeat within the FMR1 mRNA in the pathogenesis of FXTAS. Though the mRNA has been observed to induce cellular toxicity in FXTAS, the mechanisms are unclear. One common neurophysiological characteristic of FXTAS patients is their inability to properly attenuate their response to an auditory stimulus upon receipt of a small pre-stimulus.

Real-time quantification of antibody-short interfering RNA conjugate in serum by antigen capture reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

Short interfering RNA (siRNA) has therapeutic potential. However, efficient delivery is a formidable task. To facilitate delivery of siRNA into cells, we covalently conjugated siRNA to antibodies that bind to cell surface proteins and internalize.