Project description:We used microarrays to explore the global affect on gene expression in C. elegans after exposure to arsenic L3 stage N2 worms were incubated for 6 hrs in sodium arsenite containing media of concentrations .003 and .03. Three independent extractions of RNA were performed from no exposure, .003 exposure, and .03 exposure worms.
Project description:Cadmium is a naturally occurring heavy metal, and it is widely used in industry. Due to its persistent toxic effect, cadmium is classified as a category one human carcinogen. Its toxicity has been extensively studied in different organisms, including the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. To investigate the transcriptomic responses following cadmium during early life exposure, C. elegans larval were exposed either from L1 to L3 stage or L1 to L4 stage to 20 µM cadmium chloride. RNAseq was applied to identified the changes of the transcriptome and the pathways which are specific to each stage. Overall, the result revealed that the highest responsive genes in both exposure scenario were linked to oxidative stress, lipid metabolism and ion binding. Additionally, some of these genes are well characterized and linked to specific functions, but some have no known function, however these uncharacterized genes are differentially expressed in both stages as a result of cadmium toxicity.Numerous transcripts were identified in one stage but not at the other. Furthermore, a general trend was observed where a larger number of genes were differentially expressed at L3 stage compared to L4, which suggest stage specific sensitivity in response to cadmium exposure.
Project description:We compare whole-animal RNA-seq transcriptomes for C. elegans males and hermaphrodites from the late L3 larval stage to young adulthood. During this interval, male sexual structures develop, including extensive neurogenesis and synaptogenesis that nearly doubles the size of the nervous system. Previous genome-wide expression studies in C. elegans have usually focused on only one sex â the hermaphrodite, and there are a relatively large number of predicted genes that still remain without meaningful annotation. In the present study, differential expression analysis of the RNA-seq data revealed 1,751 genes expressed at a higher level in the male. By differential expression analysis, unbiased gene correlation analysis, and a guilt-by-association approach, we identified new transcription factors required for differentiation of male genital structures, semen proteins, and candidates for previously-unknown components for synapse function. The results validate the dataset as a rich resource for future gene discovery in C. elegans. To analyze gene expression during sexual maturation in C. elegans, we performed RNA-seq for five samples for each sex ranging at 6 hr intervals from late L3 to young adult stages
Project description:We compare whole-animal RNA-seq transcriptomes for C. elegans males and hermaphrodites from the late L3 larval stage to young adulthood. During this interval, male sexual structures develop, including extensive neurogenesis and synaptogenesis that nearly doubles the size of the nervous system. Previous genome-wide expression studies in C. elegans have usually focused on only one sex – the hermaphrodite, and there are a relatively large number of predicted genes that still remain without meaningful annotation. In the present study, differential expression analysis of the RNA-seq data revealed 1,751 genes expressed at a higher level in the male. By differential expression analysis, unbiased gene correlation analysis, and a guilt-by-association approach, we identified new transcription factors required for differentiation of male genital structures, semen proteins, and candidates for previously-unknown components for synapse function. The results validate the dataset as a rich resource for future gene discovery in C. elegans.