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International Caenorhabditis elegans Experiment First Flight-Aging (ICE-First-Aging)
03.22.12

Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Images

Experiment/Payload Overview

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

International Caenorhabditis elegans Experiment - First - Aging (ICE-First-Aging) performs an analysis of the aging related protein aggregation and the effects of aging in muscle cells. C. elegans (nematode worms) are relatively simple organisms that are used as a model for a wide variety of biological processes. The ICE-First investigation is a collaborative effort conducted by scientists from several countries which have the opportunity to work as a team to design related experiments that would produce valuable results for scientists across multiple disciplines.

Principal Investigator

  • Shuji Honda, , Japanese eXploration Agency, Tsukuba City, , Japan

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

  • Noriaki Ishioka, , Japanese eXploration Agency, Tsukuba City, , Japan
  • Yuko Honda, , Japanese eXploration Agency, Tsukuba City, , Japan

    • Payload Developer Information Pending

    Sponsoring Space Agency

    Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

    Sponsoring Organization:

    Information Pending

    ISS Expedition Duration:

    October 2003 - April 2004



    Expeditions Assigned

    8

    Previous ISS Missions

    The precursor to ICE-First (flown during Expedition 8), BRIC-60/C. elegans, flew on STS-107 (Columbia). Following the break-up of Columbia upon re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, the samples were located among debris in East Texas and returned to NASA.

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    Experiment/Payload Description

    Research Summary

    • The ICE-First-Aging experiment examines the effects of microgravity on protein-folding homeostasis (maintenance of internal equilibrium in a cell or organism) in muscle cells.


    • This investigation provides a unique opportunity for scientists from several countries to work as a team to design experiments that would produce valuable results for scientists across several various disciplines.

    Description

    ICE-First-Aging is one of several experiments that investigates the effects of space flight on a model organism in the nematode worm family (Caenorhabditis elegans) and aims to develop links to human physiology in space. The organism chosen for this study is known to be able to mate, reproduce and develop apparently normally during space flight.

    C. elegans is a round worm or nematode (Phylum Nematoda) measuring around 1mm and is found naturally in soil. Its body is composed of 959 cells and includes complete reproductive, nervous, muscular, and digestive systems. C. elegans are hermaphrodites (displaying two genders and possessing the ability of self fertilization). Its life span is about 2-3 weeks; although, concerning the liquid medium used for this study at 25°, the life cycle is around 5 days. The entire genome has been sequenced and consists of 97 million base pairs (compared to the 3,000 million found in the human genome) and around 20,000 genes (compared to the 30,000 that humans have) and an entire library of well characterized mutants are available. C. elegans has been used as a model system for various medical pathologies and was the subject of the 2002 Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology because the process of programmed cell death or apoptosis was first discovered while studying C. elegans development.

    Loss of protein homeostasis is increasingly becoming recognized as an important contributor to several age-associated diseases and may play a causal role in aging. The folding and maintenance of proteins in their native conformation is essential to cellular function. A link between aging and protein homeostasis in the nematode C. elegans is supported by an analysis of the aggregation of polyglutamine (polyQ - a chain of secondary and primary organic compounds) in body wall muscle cells, using transgenic C. elegans expressing polyQ-YFP (yellow fluorescent protein) and also daf-2 (abnormal DAuer Formation-a class of genes in C. elegans that encodes an enzyme that is the insulin growth factor receptor gene) lifespan-extension mutant. DAF-2 activity is required for a number of processes in C. elegans, including embryonic and larval development, adult longevity, reproduction, fat storage, and response to exogenous stressors such as high temperature or bacterial infection. Scientists also analyze sarcomere orientation in the muscle of transgenic C. elegans expressing GFP (green fluorescent protein) in body wall muscle cells.

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    Applications

    Space Applications

    The possibilities for longer-term space flights are increasing. These types of experiments give scientists an insight into the effect that the environment of space will have on organisms at the genetic level.

    Earth Applications

    By understanding fundamental processes in C. elegans, scientists can better understand the human counterparts. This study can lead to a further understanding of the implications of altered protein homeostasis in aging.

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    Operations

    Operational Requirements

    ICE-First-Aging samples are placed in either the Kubik Topaz or Kubik Amber incubator before and after the launch. Filming is required immediately upon the arrival on Earth for later evaluation. The samples are required to stay either frozen or refrigerated until their return to scientists in Toulouse, France two days prior to landing.

    Operational Protocols

    The C. elegans samples are transported to the launch pad in Baikonur, transferred into the Kubik Topaz (incubator with microgravity plate) and kept at 18 degrees C. Three days after the launch, 3 samples are transferred into the Kubik Amber (incubator with centrifuge), while the other five samples remain in Kubik Topaz. On the last flight day, four of the C. elegans samples are injected with a fixative by the crew and all of the samples are placed in Kubik Topaz on the Soyuz and returned to Earth. Upon return to Earth, the containers are filmed to evaluate the behavior of the C. elegans following space flight. The small bags containing the culture of the worms are either frozen or refrigerated until they are returned to their respective principal investigators for detailed analysis.

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    Results/More Information

    Information Pending

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    Related Web Sites
  • ESA Human Spaceflight - ICE-First
  • Ask a C. elegans Expert

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    Publications

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    Ground Based Results Publications

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    ISS Patent Publications

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    Related Publications

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    Images

    imageThis image shows a magnified image of 2 adult worms and 1 juvenile worm crawling in the liquid media that was used for the ICE-First mission.


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    imagePhoto of a vented experiment container (EC) along with culture bags containing C. elegans. The culture bags are housed inside of vented ECs.


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    imagePhoto of Kubik Amber and Kubik Topaz incubators ready for flight.


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    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-Payloads-Helpline.
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