Bridging the phenotypic gap: real-time assessment of mitochondrial function and metabolism of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The ATP levels of an organism are an important physiological parameter that is affected by genetic make up, ageing, stress and disease.

Results

We have generated luminescent C. elegans through ubiquitous, constitutive expression of firefly luciferase, widely used for in vitro ATP determination. We hypothesise that whole animal luminescence reflects its intracellular ATP levels in vivo. To test this, we characterised the bioluminescence response of C. elegans during sublethal exposure to, and recovery from azide, a treatment that inhibits mitochondrial respiration reversibly, and causes ATP depletion. Consistent with our expectations, in vivo luminescence decreased with increasing sublethal azide levels, and recovered fully when worms were removed from azide. Firef

SUBMITTER: Lagido C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2364618 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature