Effects of FUdR on gene expression in the C. elegans bacterial diet OP50

Abstract Objective: Many C. elegans aging studies use the compound, 5-fluro-2’-deoxyuridine (FUdR), to produce a synchronous population of worms in aging studies. However, it is not fully clear what effects FUdR have on the bacterial gene expression in the E. coli strain OP50, the primary laboratory C. elegans food source. This is particularly relevant as studies indicate that intestinal microbes can affect C. elegans physiology. Here, we examine how exposure to FUdR can affect gene expression changes in OP50 E. coli. Results: RNAseq datasets were used to compare the expression patterns of E. coli genes in the strain OP50 seeded on either nematode growth media (NGM) plates or on FUdR (50µM) supplemented NGM plates. Analysis showed differential expression of genes involved in general transport, amino acid biosynthesis, transcription, iron transport, and antibiotic resistance. We specifically highlight metabolic enzymes in the L-histidine biosynthesis pathway may be regulated by FUdR exposed OP50. We conclude that OP50 exposed to FUdR results in many differentially expressed genes, including those in amino acid biosynthetic pathways.