Method Article

Examine Chemoavoidance Behavior in Transgenic Worms Using Osmotic Avoidance Assay

July 8th, 2025

In This Article

Abstract

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Source: Wang, Q. et al., Z. Caenorhabditis elegans as a Model System for Discovering Bioactive Compounds Against Polyglutamine-Mediated Neurotoxicity. J. Vis. Exp. (2021).

This video describes an osmotic avoidance assay to examine chemoavoidance behavior in a transgenic worm model. Avoidance behavior is tested in a plate in the presence of a high-osmotic barrier and chemoattractant. The worms with a functional loss of neurons get attracted by the chemoattractant, cross the high-osmotic barrier, and become paralyzed in the trap zone because of the anesthetic solution.

Protocol

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All procedures involving animal models have been reviewed by the local institutional animal care committee and the JoVE veterinary review board.

NOTE: See Table 1 for the recipes of solutions used in this protocol.

1. Preparation of materials for the Caenorhabditis elegans assay

  1. Maintenance of C. elegans strains
    1. Obtain C. elegans (AM141 and HA759) and Escherichia coli (OP50 and NA22) strains (see the Table of Materials).
    2. Maintain the nematodes on the nematode growth media (NGM....

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Disclosures

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No conflicts of interest declared.

Materials

List of materials used in this article
NameCompanyCatalog NumberComments
C. elegans strains
HA759
rtIs11 [osm-10p::GFP + osm-10p::HtnQ150 + dpy-20(+)]		Caenorhabditis Genetics Center (CGC)https://cgc.umn.edu/strain/HA759
E. coli strains
NA22Caenorhabditis Genetics Center (CGC)https://cgc.umn.edu/strain/NA22
OP50Caenorhabditis Genetics Center (CGC)https://cgc.umn.edu/strain/OP50
Reagent
AgarShanghai EKEAR Bio-Technology Co., Ltd.EQ1001-500Ghttps://www.ekear.com
ButanedioneSinopharm Chemical Reagent Co., Ltd.80042427https://www.reagent.com.cn/goodsDetail/d027c00e64c9404d9aa41391fbb
595d0
CholesterolSigma-AldrichC8667https://www.sigmaaldrich.cn/CN/zh/product/sigma/c8667?context=product
GlycerolAladdin Co., Ltd.G116203https://www.aladdin-e.com/zh_cn/g116203.html
PeptoneGuangdong HuanKai Microbial Science and Technology Co., Ltd.050170Bhttps://www.huankai.com/show/21074.html
Sodium azideSinopharm Chemical Reagent Co., Ltd.80115560https://www.reagent.com.cn/goodsDetail/5e981aa807664e26af
551e96ff5f07cd
Sodium hydroxideSinopharm Chemical Reagent Co., Ltd.10019718https://www.reagent.com.cn/goodsDetail/450dfdb1132a4d8a817
d3d8c68ec25e6
Sodium hypochlorite solutionGuangzhou Chemical Reagent Factory7681-52-9http://www.chemicalreagent.com/product/DetailProduct.aspx?id=125
TryptoneOxoid Ltd.LP0042Bhttps://www.thermofisher.cn/order/catalog/product/LP0042B#/LP0042B
Yeast extractOxoid Ltd.LP0021Bhttps://www.thermofisher.cn/order/catalog/product/LP0021B#/LP0021B
Equipment
48-well cell culture plateNest Biotechnology Co., Ltd.748001https://www.cell-nest.com/page94?_l=en&product_id=85
90 mm Petri dishSangon Biotech (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.F611003https://www.sangon.com/productDetail?productInfo.code=F611003
AutoclavePanasonicMLS-3781L-PC
Dissecting microscopeChongQing Optical Co., Ltd.ZSA0745http://www.coicuop.com/plus/view.php?aid=64
MicrocentrifugeGeneCompanyGENESPEED X1https://www.genecompany.com/index.php/Home/Goods/goodsdetails/gid/189.html
Parafilm MSigma-AldrichP7793-1EAhttps://www.sigmaaldrich.cn/CN/en/product/sigma/p7793?context=product
ShakerZhicheng Inc.ZWY-2102Chttp://www.zhicheng.net/Product/0865291356.html

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Tags

Chemoavoidance BehaviorOsmotic Avoidance AssayTransgenic WormsASH NeuronsProtein AggregationBioactive CompoundsGlycerol BarrierButanedione AttractionSodium Azide ParalysisAvoidance Index

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