Live imaging and morphometric analysis of embryonic development in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis Journal Article

  


Authors: Rhee, J. M.; Oda-Ishii, I.; Passamaneck, Y. J.; Hadjantonakis, A. K.; Di Gregorio, A.
Article Title: Live imaging and morphometric analysis of embryonic development in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis
Abstract: The ascidian Ciona intestinalis is one of the model organisms of choice for comparative investigations of chordate development and for unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying morphogenesis and cell fate specification. Taking advantage of the availability of various genetically encoded fluorescent proteins and of defined cis-regulatory elements, we combined transient transgenesis with laser scanning confocal imaging to acquire and quantitate 3D time-lapse data from living Ciona embryos. We used Ciona tissue-specific enhancers to drive expression of spectrally distinct fluorescent protein reporters to label and simultaneously visualize axially and paraxially positioned mesodermal derivatives, as well as neural precursors in individual embryos. We observed morphogenetic movements, without perturbing development, from the early gastrula throughout the larval stage, including gastrulation, neurulation, convergent extension of the presumptive notochord, and tail elongation. These multidimensional data allowed us to establish a reference system of metrics to quantify key developmental events including blastopore closure and muscle extension. The approach we describe can be used to document morphogenetic cell and tissue rearrangements in living embryos and paves the way for a live digitized anatomical atlas of Ciona. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Keywords: protein expression; confocal; nonhuman; animals; animal tissue; confocal microscopy; microscopy, confocal; embryo; fluorescence; cell fate; embryo development; morphogenesis; neural stem cell; cell specificity; animalia; tail; gene expression regulation, developmental; quantitative analysis; imaging, three-dimensional; cell movement; imaging; electroporation; plasmids; image processing, computer-assisted; morphometrics; mesoderm; larva; fluorescent proteins; transgenics; muscle; gastrulation; nervous system; muscle, skeletal; tissue specificity; chordata; notochord; animals, genetically modified; neurulation; ascidiacea; ascidia; gastrula; laser microscopy; ciona intestinalis; ciona; snail; forkhead; ascidian; gastropoda; brachyury
Journal Title: Genesis
Volume: 43
Issue: 3
ISSN: 1526-954X
Publisher: Wiley Blackwell  
Date Published: 2005-11-01
Start Page: 136
End Page: 147
Language: English
DOI: 10.1002/gene.20164
PUBMED: 16267822
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:

http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-28844497744&partnerID=40&md5=01c48eacda24c9e14dc404d17873c76d
Notes: --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 15" - "Export Date: 24 October 2012" - "CODEN: GNESF" - "Source: Scopus"
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MSK Authors
  1. Jerry Rhee
    2 Rhee
  2. Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis
    191 Hadjantonakis
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