title: Automated analysis of embryonic gene expression with cellular resolution in C. elegans.
abstract: We describe a system that permits the automated analysis of reporter gene expression in Caenorhabditis elegans with cellular resolution continuously during embryogenesis. We demonstrate its utility by defining the expression patterns of reporters for several embryonically expressed transcription factors. The invariant cell lineage permits the automated alignment of multiple expression profiles, allowing direct comparison of the expression of different genes' reporters. We also used this system to monitor perturbations to normal development involving changes both in cell-division timing and in cell fate. Systematic application of this system could reveal the gene activity of each cell throughout development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1705 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.
authors.forename: John Isaac
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Zhirong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.forename: Max E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Boeck
authors.forename: Barbara L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Mericle
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Nicholas
authors.forename: Zhongying
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sandel
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Waterston
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001331:Automation; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics*; D019070:Cell Lineage; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics; D009928:Organ Specificity; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins