A size threshold governs Caenorhabditis elegans
developmental progression |
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Authors: | Sravanti Uppaluri Clifford P Brangwynne |
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Institution: | Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton
University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA |
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Abstract: | The growth of organisms from humans to bacteria is affected by environmental
conditions. However, mechanisms governing growth and size control are not well
understood, particularly in the context of changes in food availability in developing
multicellular organisms. Here, we use a novel microfluidic platform to study the
impact of diet on the growth and development of the nematode Caenorhabditis
elegans. This device allows us to observe individual worms throughout
larval development, quantify their growth as well as pinpoint the moulting
transitions marking successive developmental stages. Under conditions of low food
availability, worms grow very slowly, but do not moult until they have achieved a
threshold size. The time spent in larval stages can be extended by over an order of
magnitude, in agreement with a simple threshold size model. Thus, a critical worm
size appears to trigger developmental progression, and may contribute to prolonged
lifespan under dietary restriction. |
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Keywords: | size moult development Caenorhabditis elegans growth |
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