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Updated: May 12, 2026
Live Cell Imaging of Chromosome Segregation During Mitosis
Published on: March 14, 2018
Live imaging of chromosome dynamics
Moira J Sheehan1, R Kelly Dawe, Wojciech P Pawlowski
1Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
Abstract:
Progression of meiosis has been traditionally reconstructed from microscopic images collected from fixed cells. However, studies conducted in a number of species, including plants, indicate that this approach has clear shortcomings in accurately portraying the dynamic nature of meiotic processes. Here, we describe two methods to study chromosome dynamics in live meiocytes in maize, a protocol to observe chromosomes during meiotic prophase I and a technique to monitor chromosome segregation in anaphase I and anaphase II. The first method relies on culturing intact maize anthers and observing meiocytes embedded in the anthers with multiphoton excitation (MPE) microscopy. This approach circumvents difficulties in culturing isolated prophase I meiocytes in plants. The second technique uses culturing isolated meiocytes, which is possible with anaphase cells. Both methods can be fairly easily adapted for use in other plant species. We also detail the kinds of time-lapse movies that can be captured and analyzed using this technique, and describe software that can be utilized for analysis of movies chromosome dynamic in live meiocytes.
Insights
Researchers developed novel live-imaging techniques for maize meiosis, enabling dynamic observation of chromosome behavior during cell division. These methods overcome limitations of traditional fixed-cell studies for plant chromosome dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Cell biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Traditional methods for studying meiosis rely on fixed cells, which limit understanding of dynamic chromosome processes.
- Existing techniques struggle to accurately capture the dynamic nature of meiosis in plants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and describe novel live-imaging methods for observing chromosome dynamics during meiosis in maize.
- To provide protocols for studying both meiotic prophase I and anaphase I/II chromosome segregation in live plant cells.
Main Methods:
- Culturing intact maize anthers for multiphoton excitation (MPE) microscopy of meiocytes during prophase I.
- Culturing isolated meiocytes for observing chromosome segregation during anaphase I and anaphase II.
- Utilizing time-lapse microscopy and specialized software for dynamic analysis.
Main Results:
- Successfully established two distinct protocols for live imaging of maize meiosis.
- Demonstrated the feasibility of observing chromosome dynamics in real-time during key meiotic stages.
- Highlighted the adaptability of these methods for other plant species.
Conclusions:
- Live imaging offers superior insights into chromosome dynamics during plant meiosis compared to fixed-cell approaches.
- The described MPE microscopy and isolated cell culturing techniques provide valuable tools for plant reproductive biology research.
- These methods facilitate detailed analysis of chromosome behavior, aiding in understanding meiotic progression and potential abnormalities.
