Publication
Title
Exploring real-time in vivo redox biology of developing and aging **Caenorhabditis elegans**
Author
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are no longer considered merely toxic by-products of the oxidative metabolism. Tightly controlled concentrations of ROS and fluctuations in redox potential may be important mediators of signaling processes. Understanding the role of ROS and redox status in physiology, stress response, development, and aging requires their nondisruptive, spatiotemporal, real-time quantification in a living organism. We established Caenorhabditis elegans strains bearing the genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors HyPer and Grx1-roGFP2 for the detection of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and the glutathione redox potential, respectively. Although, given its transparency and genetic tractability, C. elegans is perfectly suitable as a model organism for such approaches, they have never been tried before in this nematode. We found that H2O2 treatment clearly induces a dose-dependent, reversible response of both biosensors in the living worms. The ratio of oxidized to reduced glutathione decreases during postembryonic development. H2O2 levels increase with age and this effect is delayed when life span is extended by dietary restriction. In young adults, we detected several regions with distinct redox properties that may be linked to their biological function. Our findings demonstrate that genetically encoded biosensors can reveal previously unknown details of in vivo redox biology in multicellular organisms. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Free radical biology and medicine. - New York, N.Y.
Publication
New York, N.Y. : 2012
ISSN
0891-5849
DOI
10.1016/J.FREERADBIOMED.2011.11.037
Volume/pages
52 :5 (2012) , p. 850-859
ISI
000300739800004
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Publication type
Subject
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 11.12.2013
Last edited 16.02.2023
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