Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
PLoS One. 2021 Jan 11;16(1):e0245139. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245139. eCollection 2021.
As we learn more about the importance of gene-environment interactions and the effects of environmental enrichment, it becomes evident that minimalistic laboratory conditions can affect gene expression patterns and behaviors of model organisms. In the laboratory, Caenorhabditis elegans is generally cultured on two-dimensional, homogeneous agar plates abundantly covered with axenic bacteria culture as a food source. However, in the wild, this nematode thrives in rotting fruits and plant stems feeding on bacteria and small eukaryotes. This contrast in habitat complexity suggests that studying C. elegans in enriched laboratory conditions can deepen our understanding of its fundamental traits and behaviors. Here, we developed a protocol to create three-dimensional habitable scaffolds for trans-generational culture of C. elegans in the laboratory. Using decellularization and sterilization of fruit tissue, we created an axenic environment that can be navigated throughout and where the microbial environment can be strictly controlled. C. elegans were maintained over generations on this habitat, and showed a clear behavioral bias for the enriched environment. As an initial assessment of behavioral variations, we found that dauer populations in scaffolds exhibit high-frequency, complex nictation behavior including group towering and jumping behavior.
随着我们对基因-环境相互作用以及环境富集的影响的了解不断深入，显而易见的是，极简的实验室条件会影响模式生物的基因表达模式和行为。在实验室中，秀丽隐杆线虫通常在二维、均匀的琼脂平板上培养，平板上覆盖着丰富的无菌细菌培养物作为食物来源。然而，在野外，这种线虫在腐烂的水果和植物茎中茁壮成长，以细菌和小型真核生物为食。这种栖息地复杂性的对比表明，在丰富的实验室条件下研究秀丽隐杆线虫可以加深我们对其基本特征和行为的理解。在这里，我们开发了一种方案，为秀丽隐杆线虫的跨代实验室三维可居住支架培养创造了条件。我们使用水果组织的去细胞化和消毒，创建了一个可以在整个环境中导航的无菌环境，并且可以严格控制微生物环境。秀丽隐杆线虫在这个栖息地中被维持了几代，并且表现出对丰富环境的明显行为偏好。作为对行为变化的初步评估，我们发现支架中的 dauer 种群表现出高频、复杂的眨眼行为，包括群体高耸和跳跃行为。
