“Facilitated adaptive evolution of Caenorhabditis elegans by use of the chemical paraquat”

1. A review of healthy aging research: “Facilitated adaptive evolution of Caenorhabditis elegansby use of the chemical paraquat” Jeremy Northway

2. Introduction: Oxidative Stress & Aging • Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a known factor in aging • Paraquat (PQ) is a source of ROS • C. elegansis a model organism useful for studies in experimental evolution • Fast generation time • Highly variable population size Image by Dr. Denver and J. Northway http://www.btny.purdue.edu/weedscience/moa/Cell_membrane_disruptors/text.html

3. Introduction: My research focus & goals • Explore the qualities of PQ in experimental adaptation studies of a C. eleganspopulation Hypothesis: C. elegansexperimental populations chronically exposed to PQ will evolve increased resistance to PQ

4. Methodology: Experimental evolution 37 Days 0 PQ Freeze 10mM PQ 21 Days Freeze 37 Days Freeze 20mM PQ Time

5. Methodology: Assay Methodology: Pilot Assay (Time to reproductive maturity) x8 x8 x8 Treatment: 10mM PQ Large population for each line x8 x8 • Measured: • Survivorship (%) • Time to maturity (Days) • Lines • N2 (- control) • 0 PQ evolved • 10mM A3 • 10mM B3 • 10mM C3 • 20mM A3 x8 Treatment: 0 PQ (Control)

8. Conclusion & Future Opportunities • Observations show: • Evolutionary resistance to paraquat in ten generations • Potential trade-off of evolved lines on and off of paraquat of time to reproductive maturity • Increased survivorship of lines evolved on paraquat • Potential future directions: • Second assay checking other life history characters (eg. fecundity, lifespan) • Molecular characterization of resistance • Identify gene(s) responsible for resistance phenotype • Identified gene(s) could provide potential therapeutic targets for human aging research

9. Acknowledgments IGERT in Healthy Aging: LIFE in an Aging Society