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RNA Interference and Protein Phosphorylation in Space Environment Using the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (CERISE)
04.26.13

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Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Imagery

Experiment Overview

This content was provided by Atsushi Higashitani, Ph.D., and is maintained in a database by the ISS Program Science Office.

Information provided courtesy of the Japan Aerospace and Exploration Agency (JAXA).
Brief Summary

RNA Interference and Protein Phosphorylation in Space Environment Using the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (CERISE) evaluates the effect of microgravity on RNA interference and studies how the space environment effects protein phosphorylation and signal transduction in the muscle fibers of Caenorhabditis elegans.

Principal Investigator(s)

  • Atsushi Higashitani, Ph.D., Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan

    • Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

  • Akira Higashibata, Ph.D., Japan Aerospace and Exploration Agency, Tsukuba, Japan
  • Nathaniel J. Szewczyk, Ph.D., University of Pittsburg, Pittsburgh, PA, United States

    • Developer(s)
    Information Pending

    Sponsoring Space Agency

    Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

    Sponsoring Organization

    Information Pending

    Research Benefits

    Information Pending

    ISS Expedition Duration

    October 2009 - March 2010

    Expeditions Assigned

    21/22

    Previous ISS Missions

    The predecessor to this investigation, ICE-First, was flown to ISS in 2004.

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    Experiment Description

    Research Overview

    • RNA interference is an useful technique to artificially knock down a target gene expression. In this experiment we will examine RNA interference under space environment. We will also evaluate the effect of space environment on protein phosphorylation and signal transduction concerning muscle fibers formation using gene knock-downed C.elegans.

    Description

    Examine RNA interference under space environment and evaluate effect of space environment for protein phosphorylation and signal transduction concerning muscle fibers formation using gene knock downed C.elegans

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    Applications

    Space Applications

    Information Pending

    Earth Applications

    The experimental data will provide the important information to clarify the muscle atrophy in space and also on the Earth. The results will be the first evidence that RNA interference will be a powerful technique in space experiment to investigate the effect of microgravity on gene expression.

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    Operations

    Operational Requirements

    Information Pending

    Operational Protocols

    Information Pending

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    Results/More Information

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    Results Publications

      Szewczyk NJ, Etheridge T, Szewczyk NJ, Nemoto K, Hashizume T, Mori C, Sugimoto T, Higashitani A, Higashitani A, Suzuki H, Yamazaki T, Higashibata A, Fukui K.  The Effectiveness of RNAi in Caenorhabditis Elegans Is Maintained During Spaceflight. PLOS ONE. 2011 06/01/2011; 6(6): e20459. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0020459.

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    Ground Based Results Publications

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    ISS Patents

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    Related Publications

      Szewczyk NJ, Szewczyk NJ, Hashizume T, Sugimoto T, Mori C, Nemoto K, Higashitani A, Higashitani A, Etheridge T, Higashitani N, Suzuki H, Takanami T, Yamazaki T, Higashibata A, Ishioka N, Fukui K.  C. elegans RNAi space experiment (CERISE) in Japanese Experiment Module KIBO. Biological Sciences in Space. 2009; 23(4): 183-187. DOI: 10.2187/bss.23.183.

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    Related Websites

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    Imagery

    Information provided by the investigation team to the ISS Program Scientist's Office.
    If updates are needed to the summary please contact JSC-ISS-Program-Science-Group. For other general questions regarding space station research and technology, please feel free to call our help line at 281-244-6187 or e-mail at JSC-ISS-Research-Helpline.
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