A Method for Culturing Embryonic C. elegans Cells

Summary

We describe here a revised protocol for large-scale culture of embryonic C. elegans cells. Embryonic C. elegans cells cultured in vitro using this method, appear to differentiate and recapitulate the expression of genes in a cell specific manner. Techniques that require direct access to the cells or isolation of specific cell types from the other tissues can be applied on C. elegans cultured cells.

Abstract

C. elegans is a powerful model system, in which genetic and molecular techniques are easily applicable. Until recently though, techniques that require direct access to cells and isolation of specific cell types, could not be applied in C. elegans. This limitation was due to the fact that tissues are confined within a pressurized cuticle which is not easily digested by treatment with enzymes and/or detergents. Based on early pioneer work by Laird Bloom, Christensen and colleagues ¹ developed a robust method for culturing C. elegans embryonic cells in large scale. Eggs are isolated from gravid adults by treatment with bleach/NaOH and subsequently treated with chitinase to remove the eggshells. Embryonic cells are then dissociated by manual pipetting and plated onto substrate-covered glass in serum-enriched media. Within 24 hr of isolation cells begin to differentiate by changing morphology and by expressing cell specific markers. C. elegans cells cultured using this method survive for up 2 weeks in vitro and have been used for electrophysiological, immunochemical, and imaging analyses as well as they have been sorted and used for microarray profiling.

Introduction

Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is a powerful model organism for investigating the molecular bases of cellular function, differentiation, and behavior. While its genome, metabolic and biosynthetic pathways are similar to vertebrates', its genetic and molecular tractability are far greater ². Among its advantages are its size and simple anatomy, its rapid life cycle (3 days at 25 °C), short life-span (2 weeks) and large number of offspring (>200). Due to its hermaphroditic nature and short life cycle, molecular and genetic manipulations are straightforward in C. elegans, including the generation of transgenic animals ^3....

Protocol

Asterisks (*) indicate new or modified steps as compared to Christensen et al.¹

1. Material Setup

1. The cell culture procedure requires large quantities of eggs isolated from gravid adults. Grow C. elegans on 8P agar plates seeded with NA22 (available through the C. elegans Genetic Consortium - CGC) bacteria to isolate large quantities of eggs. In these plates the amount of peptone used is 8 times the amount that is normally used for NGM plates. The higher peptone concentration sustains the growth of NA22 bacteria more efficiently, which contrary to OP50-, grow in thick layers.

Results

C. elegans cultured cells differentiate and express cell specific markers

Christensen and colleagues using trypan blue staining demonstrated that >99% of embryonic C. elegans cells survive the isolation procedure. At day 9 and 22 after plating, 85% and 65%, respectively are still alive ¹. Isolated embryonic C. elegans cells must adhere to a substrate in order to differentiate. Cells that fail to adhere form clumps and it is not clear whether they survive. .......

Discussion

C. elegans is a powerful model organism for deciphering the genetic pathways involved in development, behavior and ageing. Its convenience stems primarily from the ease with which it can be genetically manipulated and from its short life cycle. Despite its convenience, C. elegans has its limitations. C. elegans cells are tiny and confined within a pressurized cuticle that limits the application of methods that require direct access to the cells, such as electrophysiological and pharmacological .......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
REAGENTS
Bacto Peptone	VWR International Inc.	90000-382
Difco Agar Granulated	VWR International Inc.	90000-784
Bacto Tryptone	VWR International Inc.	90000-284
Bacto Yeast Extract	VWR International Inc.	90000-724
Leibovitz's L-15 Medium (1x) Liquid	Invitrogen	11415-064
Fetal Bovine Serum	Invitrogen	16140-063
Penicillin-streptomycin	Sigma	P4333-100ML
Chitinase from Streptomyces Griseus	Sigma	C6137-25UN
NA22 Escherichia coli	Caenorhabditis Genetics Center
Peanut Lectin	Sigma	L0881-10MG
Sucrose	Sigma	57903-1KG
D-(+)Glucose	Sigma	67528-1KG
Ethylene glycol-bis (2-amin–thylether), N,N,N',N'- tetraacidic acid (EGTA)	Sigma	E0396-25G
Hepes	Sigma	H3375-500G
Cholesterol
NaCl	Sigma	57653-1KG
KCl	Sigma	P9333-500G
CaCl2	Sigma	C1016-500G
MgCl2	Sigma	M8266-100G
MgSO4	Sigma	M2643-500 g
K2HPO4	Sigma	P2222-500G
KH2PO4	Sigma	P9791-500G
NaOH	Sigma	S8045-500G
KOH	Sigma	P1767-500G
Ethanol
Autoclaved distilled H2O
Bleach
EQUIPMENT
101-1000 μl Blue Graduated Pipet Tips	USA Scentific	1111-2821
10 ml Sterilized Pipet Individually Wrapped	USA Scentific	1071-0810
Ergonomic Variable Volume (100-1000 μl) Pipettor with tip ejector	VWR International Inc.	89079-974
Portable Pipet Aid, Drummond	VWR International Inc.	53498-103
Transfer Plastic Pipet Sterile	VWR International Inc.	14670-114
15 ml Conical Tube	USA Scentific	1475-1611
50 ml Conical Tube	USA Scentific	1500-1811
Sterile 18 gauge Needles	Becton, Dickinson and Co.	305196
Sterile 10 ml Syringes	Becton, Dickinson and Co.	305482
Plastic Syringe Filters Corning 0,20 μm pore size	Corning	431224
Acrodic 25 mm Syringe filter w/5 μm versapor Membrane	VWR International Inc.	28144-095
60x15 mm Petri Dish Sterile	VWR International Inc.	82050-548
100x15 mm Petri Dish Sterile	VWR International Inc.	82050-912
12 mm Diameter Glass Coverslips	VWR International Inc.	48300-560
Clear Cell Culture Plates 24 Well Flat Bottom w/lid	Thomas scientific	6902A09
Dumont #5- Fine Forceps	Fine Science Tools	11254-20
Centrifuge 5702	Eppendorf	022629883
Laminar Flow Hood
Inverted Microscope with x10 objective
Ambient air humidified Incubator