Image of the Day: Starved Worm

A heat map of gene expression provides insights on the genes that help C. elegans survive severe caloric restriction.


Register for free to listen to this article
Listen with Speechify
0:00
1:00
Share

A starved Caenorhabditis elegans worm in an early larval stage, showing the intensity of expression of the gene tps-1, which appears strongest in the intestine and the outer skin JONATHAN HIBSHMAN & RYAN BAUGH / DUKE UNIVERSITY The nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans is a popular model to study the physiological reponses that allow animals to cope with starvation. When population densities are high and food is limited, C. elegans will form specialized larval forms—so-called “dauer” larvae—that can survive for months in nutrient-poor conditions, or enter a state of developmental arrest until they feed. To explore the genetics involved in this survival adaptation, scientists took a close look at one gene, known as tps-1, that is involved in synthesizing trehalose, a sugar that helps protect the worms from desiccation and other types of stress. They found that tps-1 expression and trehalose synthesis increases during starvation periods, demonstrating its role as a stress protectant.

See J.D. Hibshman et al., “daf-16/FoxO promotes gluceogenesis and trehalose synthesis during starvation to support survival,” eLife, doi:10.7554/eLife.30057, 2017.

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

The Scientist Logo
Receive full access to more than 35 years of archives, as well as TS Digest, digital editions of The Scientist, feature stories, and much more!
Already a member? Login Here
3D illustration of a gold lipid nanoparticle with pink nucleic acid inside of it. Purple and teal spikes stick out from the lipid bilayer representing polyethylene glycol.
February 2025, Issue 1

A Nanoparticle Delivery System for Gene Therapy

A reimagined lipid vehicle for nucleic acids could overcome the limitations of current vectors.

View this Issue
Considerations for Cell-Based Assays in Immuno-Oncology Research

Considerations for Cell-Based Assays in Immuno-Oncology Research

Lonza
An illustration of animal and tree silhouettes.

From Water Bears to Grizzly Bears: Unusual Animal Models

Taconic Biosciences
Sex Differences in Neurological Research

Sex Differences in Neurological Research

bit.bio logo
New Frontiers in Vaccine Development

New Frontiers in Vaccine Development

Sino

Products

Tecan Logo

Tecan introduces Veya: bringing digital, scalable automation to labs worldwide

Inventia Life Science

Inventia Life Science Launches RASTRUM™ Allegro to Revolutionize High-Throughput 3D Cell Culture for Drug Discovery and Disease Research

An illustration of differently shaped viruses.

Detecting Novel Viruses Using a Comprehensive Enrichment Panel

Twist Bio 
Zymo Research

Zymo Research Launches Microbiome Grant to Support Innovation in Microbial Sciences