This study investigates how bacterial diets and stressors impact lipid metabolism in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Nematodes were fed different bacterial diets and exposed to either glucose stress or food deprivation. Lipids from these animals were extracted and analyzed by HPLC and mass spectrometry. Preliminary observations for experiments analyzing dietary restriction using paraformaldehyde and oxidative stress using tert-butyl hydroperoxide were compared with the prior stress experiments. Bacterial diets influence phospholipid distribution, while stressors induce changes, from subtle to significant, in lipid composition, suggesting adaptive metabolic responses. These findings help explain the complex intersection between diet, stress, and lipid metabolism in C. elegans, warranting further investigation into various stressors.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• DiTullio, Diana
• MacDonald, Liliana

Subject

• Health
• Innovation

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 121487
• E-project-042424-120151

Keyword

• Lipids
• Stress
• Starvation
• Membranes
• C. elegans
• Diet

Advisor

• Olsen, Carissa Lynn

Year

• 2024

Date created

• 2024-04-24

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biochemistry

Source

• E-project-042424-120151

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2024-05-28