Innovative Observation of a 266-nm Laser Inhibiting Egg Laying in Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

Infrared laser as a heat source could induce gene expression by activating heat promoter genes in Caenorhabditis elegans, as previously reported. In this study, we innovatively used a 266-nm laser to irradiate C. elegans for only one second and observed a significant inhibition of the overall number of eggs laid (P < 0.0001) and the first day egg laying (P=0.005). This is the first study to establish how light with a wavelength of 266-nm can influence a life activity such as laying eggs in C. elegans.