Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas 2 articles published in JoVE Biology Assessment of de novo Protein Synthesis Rates in Caenorhabditis elegans Margarita Elena Papandreou*1,2, Konstantinos Palikaras*1,2, Nektarios Tavernarakis1,2 1Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Greece, 2Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, 70013, Crete, Greece Here, we introduce and describe a nonradioactive and noninvasive method to assess de novo protein synthesis in vivo, utilizing the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). This method can be combined with genetic and/or pharmacological screens to identify novel modulators of protein synthesis. Biology Modeling Age-Associated Neurodegenerative Diseases in Caenorhabditis elegans Konstantinos Palikaras1,2, Nektarios Tavernarakis1,2 1Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Greece, 2Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, 70013, Crete, Greece Here, we introduce and describe widely accessible methodologies utilizing some versatile nematode models, including hyperactivated ion channel-induced necrosis and protein aggregate-induced neurotoxicity, to monitor and dissect the cellular and molecular underpinnings of age-associated neurodegenerative diseases.
