Protocol for forward genetic screening to identify novel factors involved in a biological process in Caenorhabditis elegans

Keita Yoshida; Yuji Suehiro; Shohei Mitani

doi:10.1016/j.xpro.2024.103114

Protocol for forward genetic screening to identify novel factors involved in a biological process in Caenorhabditis elegans

STAR Protoc. 2024 Jun 21;5(2):103114. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2024.103114. Epub 2024 Jun 5.

Authors

Keita Yoshida¹, Yuji Suehiro², Shohei Mitani³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physiology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, 8-1 Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan. Electronic address: yoshida.keita@twmu.ac.jp.
² Department of Physiology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, 8-1 Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan.
³ Department of Physiology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, 8-1 Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan; Department of Physiology, The Nippon Dental University School of Life Dentistry, 1-9-20 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8159, Japan. Electronic address: smitani514@gmail.com.

Abstract

Forward genetic screens have been a powerful tool for discovering genes involved in various biological processes in Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, we present a protocol for forward genetic screening to identify novel factors involved in a biological process in C. elegans. We describe steps for mutagenesis, screening, and backcrossing. To save time and effort, we also detail procedures for utilizing whole-genome sequencing to exclude mutants of previously characterized genes from crosses for mapping mutations. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Yoshida et al.¹.

Keywords: genetics; model organisms; sequence analysis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Caenorhabditis elegans* / genetics
Genetic Testing* / methods
Mutagenesis / genetics
Mutation / genetics
Whole Genome Sequencing / methods