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Development and application of bioluminescent Caenorhabditis elegans as multicellular eukaryotic biosensors
Author(s) -
Lagido C.,
Pettitt J.,
Porter A.J.R.,
Paton G.I.,
Glover L.A.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(01)02271-2
Subject(s) - bioluminescence , caenorhabditis elegans , luciferase , biology , multicellular organism , transgene , toxicity , endogeny , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , chemistry , transfection , organic chemistry
We describe a novel approach to assess toxicity to the free‐living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans that relies on the ability of firefly luciferase to report on endogenous ATP levels. We have constructed bioluminescent C. elegans with the luc gene under control of a constitutive promoter. Light reduction was observed in response to increasing temperature, concentrations of copper, lead and 3,5‐dichlorophenol. This was due to increased mortality coupled with decreased metabolic activity in the surviving animals. The light emitted by the transgenic nematodes gave a rapid, real‐time indication of metabolic status. This forms the basis of rapid and biologically relevant toxicity tests.