title: Quantitative imaging of collective cell migration during Drosophila gastrulation: multiphoton microscopy and computational analysis.
abstract: This protocol describes imaging and computational tools to collect and analyze live imaging data of embryonic cell migration. Our five-step protocol requires a few weeks to move through embryo preparation and four-dimensional (4D) live imaging using multi-photon microscopy, to 3D cell tracking using image processing, registration of tracking data and their quantitative analysis using computational tools. It uses commercially available equipment and requires expertise in microscopy and programming that is appropriate for a biology laboratory. Custom-made scripts are provided, as well as sample datasets to permit readers without experimental data to carry out the analysis. The protocol has offered new insights into the genetic control of cell migration during Drosophila gastrulation. With simple modifications, this systematic analysis could be applied to any developing system to define cell positions in accordance with the body plan, to decompose complex 3D movements and to quantify the collective nature of cell migration.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biology and Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA.
authors.forename: Willy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Supatto
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: Scott E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.forename: Angelike
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stathopoulos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D002470:Cell Survival; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D054262:Gastrulation; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D036641:Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton / Q000379:methods*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; C401521:klar protein, Drosophila