Detection of analytes, especially xenobiotics, comprises evaluating their effect on Caenorhabditis elegans gene expression

摘要

Detection of analyte(s) comprises contacting a nematode test culture with the analyte(s), isolating mRNA from the test culture and from a nematode control culture, synthesizing cDNAs from the mRNAs, labeling the cDNAs with different labels, hybridizing the cDNAs with immobilized Caenorhabditis elegans genes and evaluating gene expression. Detection of one or more substances or classes of substances in a medium comprises: (a) selecting one or more genes of the soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans; (b) isolating the selected gene(s); (c) immobilizing the selected gene(s) on a support; (d) providing a nematode test culture and a nematode control culture and exposing the test culture to the medium to be assayed; (e) isolating mRNA from both cultures; (f) synthesizing cDNAs from the mRNAs and labeling the cDNAs with different labels; (g) hybridizing the cDNAs with the immobilized gene(s); and (h) evaluating the induced gene expression. An Independent claim is also included for apparatus for the above purpose, comprising a selection of Caenorhabditis elegans genes, a support for the genes, and means for evaluating gene expression.