Evaluating Motor Impairment in <em>C. elegans</em> Models Using the Radial Locomotion Assay

Source: Currey, H. N., et al. Evaluation of Motor Impairment in C. elegans Models of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. J. Vis. Exp. (2021). This video demonstrates the use of a radial locomotion assay to evaluate motor dysfunction in C. elegans expressing either wild-type or ALS-mutant human TDP-43 protein. Worms with varying levels of wild-type or mutant TDP-43 expression are allowed to crawl, and their movement is measured by the radial distance traveled from the central point on the assay plate. The assay distinguishes between mild, moderate, and severe motor impairments based on the distance traveled by the different C. elegans strains.