Quantitative Assessment of Pheromone-Induced Dauer Formation in Caenorhabditis elegans

摘要: Environmental conditions experienced during early larval stages dictate the developmental trajectory of nematode C. elegans. Favorable such as low population density, abundant food, and lower temperatures allow reproductive growth, while stressful promote entry second-stage (L2) larvae into alternate dauer stage. Population density is signaled by concentration composition a complex mixture small molecules that produced all animals, collectively referred to pheromone; pheromone major trigger for formation. Here, we describe quantitative formation assay provides measure potency single or mixtures components in regulating this critical decision.