SEGGA: A toolset for rapid automated analysis of epithelial cell polarity and dynamics Journal Article


Authors: Farrell, D. L.; Weitz, O.; Magnasco, M. O.; Zallen, J. A.
Article Title: SEGGA: A toolset for rapid automated analysis of epithelial cell polarity and dynamics
Abstract: Epithelial remodeling determines the structure of many organs in the body through changes in cell shape, polarity and behavior and is a major area of study in developmental biology. Accurate and high-throughput methods are necessary to systematically analyze epithelial organization and dynamics at single-cell resolution. We developed SEGGA, an easy-to-use software for automated image segmentation, cell tracking and quantitative analysis of cell shape, polarity and behavior in epithelial tissues. SEGGA is free, open source, and provides a full suite of tools that allow users with no prior computational expertise to independently perform all steps of automated image segmentation, semi-automated user-guided error correction, and data analysis. Here we use SEGGA to analyze changes in cell shape, cell interactions and planar polarity during convergent extension in the Drosophila embryo. These studies demonstrate that planar polarity is rapidly established in a spatiotemporally regulated pattern that is dynamically remodeled in response to changes in cell orientation. These findings reveal an unexpected plasticity that maintains coordinated planar polarity in actively moving populations through the continual realignment of cell polarity with the tissue axes. © 2017. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.
Keywords: drosophila; morphogenesis; cell tracking; image segmentation; planar polarity; convergent extension; epithelia
Journal Title: Development
Volume: 144
Issue: 9
ISSN: 0950-1991
Publisher: Company of Biologists  
Date Published: 2017-05-01
Start Page: 1725
End Page: 1734
Language: English
DOI: 10.1242/dev.146837
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 28465336
PMCID: PMC5450846
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 2 June 2017 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Jennifer A Zallen
    49 Zallen
  2. Ori Weitz
    5 Weitz