Blue florescence provides insight into how worms die

Sydney Morning Herald : Caenorhabditis elegans is a species of transparent nematode that has the unusual characteristic of producing a blue florescent chemical in its digestive tract. David Gems of University College London and his colleagues studied the worms to determine the apparent connection between the fluorescence and aging. They found that when the worms died, regardless of age or cause, a wave of increased fluorescence traveled the length of the animal. The team then determined that the source of the fluorescence was the esters of anthranilic acid and that the wave of increased brightness was paired with necrotic cell death. They also found that the spread of cell necrosis appeared to be tied to an influx of calcium. By treating the worms with chemicals that reduced the absorption of calcium by the intestine, they found that they could slow down the wave of necrosis when the death was not due to old age. Gems says that the discovery could provide some insight into aging and death and further attempts to increase human longevity.