Improved vectors for selection of transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans.

The generation of transgenic animals is an essential part of research in Caenorhabditis elegans. One technique for the generation of these animals is biolistic bombardment involving the use of DNA-coated microparticles. To facilitate the identification of transgenic animals within a background of non-transformed animals, the unc-119 gene is often used as a visible marker as the unc-119 mutants are small and move poorly and the larger size and smoother movement of rescued animals make them clearly visible.

Identification of novel genes involved in sarcopenia through RNAi screening in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Background: Aging in humans is characterized by a progressive loss of muscle mass and strength known as sarcopenia. Although considered to be a normal aspect of aging, the loss of strength can have significant effects on the health, functioning, and independence of elderly individuals. Although these aspects of sarcopenia have been well studied, the molecular mechanisms leading to its development are still unclear.

Can microRNAs act as biomarkers of aging?

Aging can be defined as a progressive decline in physiological efficiency regulated by an extremely complex multifactorial process. The genetic makeup of an individual appears to dictate this rate of aging in a species specific manner. For decades now, scientists have tried to look for tiny signatures or signs which might help us predict this rate of aging.

The production of C. elegans transgenes via recombineering with the galK selectable marker.

The creation of transgenic animals is widely utilized in C. elegans research including the use of GFP fusion proteins to study the regulation and expression pattern of genes of interest or generation of tandem affinity purification (TAP) tagged versions of specific genes to facilitate their purification. Typically transgenes are generated by placing a promoter upstream of a GFP reporter gene or cDNA of interest, and this often produces a representative expression pattern.

Alternatively spliced isoforms encoded by cadherin genes from C. elegansgenome.

Cadherins are calcium-dependent, homophilic, cell-cell adhesion receptors that regulate morphogenesis, pattern formation and cell migration. The C. elegans Genome Sequencing Consortium has reported 12 genes from C.

Identification and comparative analysis of novel alternatively spliced transcripts of RhoGEF domain encoding gene in C. elegans and C. briggsae.

Y95B8A.12 gene of C. elegans encodes RhoGEF domain, which is a novel module in the Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs).

Computational and molecular characterization of multiple isoforms of lfe-2 gene in nematode C. elegans.

C. elegans C46H11.4 gene encodes a Let-23 fertility effector/regulator protein of the EGF-receptor class of the tyrosine kinase family.

The role of nitric oxide in inflammatory reactions.

Nitric oxide (NO) was initially described as a physiological mediator of endothelial cell relaxation, an important role in hypotension. NO is an intercellular messenger that has been recognized as one of the most versatile players in the immune system. Cells of the innate immune system--macrophages, neutrophils and natural killer cells--use pattern recognition receptors to recognize the molecular patterns associated with pathogens.

Comparative analysis of various gene finders specific to Caenorhabditis elegans genome.

Computational gene prediction and identifying alternatively spliced isoforms have always been a challenging task. In this paper, we describe the performance of three gene/exon finding programmes namely Fex, Gen view2 and Gene builder capable of predicting open reading frames or exons for a given set of sequences from C. elegans genome.

Alternative splicing: a paradoxical qudo in eukaryotic genomes.

One of the most remarkable observations stemming from the sequencing of genomes of diverse species is that the number of protein-coding genes in an organism does not correlate with its overall cellular complexity. Alternative splicing, a key mechanism for generating protein complexity, has been suggested as one of the major explanation for this discrepancy between the number of genes and genome complexity. Determining the extent and importance of alternative splicing required the confluence of critical advances in data acquisition, improved understanding of biological processes and the development of fast and accurate computational analysis tools.