Figure 2. Oxidized L2 subpopulations show increased stress resistance and longer lifespan.

Experiments were performed with N2jrIs2[Prpl-17::Grx1-roGFP2] animals sorted into L2^ox, L2^mean and L2^red subpopulations. (a) Representative survival curves of sorted worms that survived heat shock treatment. (b) Representative survival curves of sorted worms cultivated on NGM plates supplemented with 2 mM PQ. (c) Representative survival curves of sorted worms. See Extended Data Fig. 2e–i for repetitions. (Insert) The Grx1-roGFP2 ratio of individual worms (symbol) after sorting is shown. n = animals; unpaired t-test, two sided. (d) Representative survival curves of a non-sorted (mixed) worm population treated at the L2 stage with either nothing, 1 mM PQ or 10 mM NAC for 10 hours. (Insert) The Grx1-roGFP2 ratio of individual worms (symbol) after treatment is shown. n animals; one-way ANOVA with Tukey correction. Data in inserts represent mean ± SEM. (e-f) Representative survival curves of a L2^red (e) or L2^ox subpopulation (f) after a 10 h-treatment with either nothing, 1 mM PQ or 10 mM NAC. The specific sorting events, number of individuals, repetitions and statistical analysis (log-rank) for each of the data sets shown in this figure can be found in Ext. Data Tables 1–3.