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Methods to Quantify and Relate Axonal Transport Defects to Changes in C. elegans Behavior
Syed Nooruzuha Barmaver1, Muniesh Muthaiyan Shanmugam1, Oliver Ingvar Wagner2
1Department of Life Science, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|April 12, 2022
Summary
Defective axonal transport (AT) in C. elegans neurons can cause neurological disease. This chapter details methods to study AT defects and related behavioral changes for disease modeling and drug discovery.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Axonal transport (AT) is crucial for neuronal function, health, and injury response.
- Dysfunctional AT can lead to the accumulation of disease-associated proteins (e.g., tau, α-synuclein) and neurological disorders.
- Observable behavioral changes in C. elegans, like impaired movement or sensory defects, can indicate AT issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize methods for identifying and quantifying axonal transport defects.
- To present behavioral assays linked to axonal transport deficits in C. elegans.
- To highlight the utility of C. elegans as a model for studying neuropathological diseases and identifying drug targets.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing long C. elegans neurons for analyzing axonal transport (AT).
- Quantifying AT defects through specific assays.
- Employing behavioral assays to detect consequences of neuronal dysfunction.
Main Results:
- Established C. elegans as a model organism for studying AT and its link to neurological conditions.
- Demonstrated the correlation between AT deficits and quantifiable behavioral changes.
- Laid groundwork for suppressor screens to identify genes involved in AT and disease.
Conclusions:
- C. elegans provides a powerful platform for modeling neuropathological diseases linked to AT.
- Methods described can advance the understanding of disease mechanisms and facilitate drug discovery.
- Studying AT defects and associated behaviors is key to developing therapies for neurological disorders.
