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Updated: Apr 25, 2026
Spatiotemporal Analysis of Cytokinetic Events in Fission Yeast
Published on: February 20, 2017
Local and global analysis of endocytic patch dynamics in fission yeast using a new "temporal superresolution"
Julien Berro1, Thomas D Pollard2
1Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry Nanobiology Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8103 Institut Camille Jordan, UMR CNRS 5208, Université de Lyon, 69622 Villeurbanne-Cedex, France Centre de Génétique et de Physiologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, UMR CNRS 5534, Université de Lyon, 69622 Villeurbanne-Cedex, France.
New tools enhance quantitative microscopy for studying cellular processes like clathrin-mediated endocytosis in fission yeast. Researchers developed methods to track actin dynamics, revealing insights into vesicle formation and movement.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
- Microscopy
Background:
- Quantitative microscopy is crucial for understanding cellular mechanisms.
- Limitations in data collection and analysis hinder the full potential of quantitative microscopy.
- Clathrin-mediated endocytosis is a key cellular process requiring precise molecular understanding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel tools for improved data collection and analysis in quantitative microscopy.
- To investigate the molecular mechanisms of actin dynamics during endocytosis in fission yeast.
- To achieve "temporal superresolution" for higher-fidelity temporal data analysis.
Main Methods:
- Development of new tools to track and count endocytic patches in fission yeast.
- Implementation of a universal method for "temporal superresolution" by aligning temporal datasets.
- Quantitative analysis of fimbrin-mEGFP fluorescence in wild-type fission yeast cells.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated variability in actin assembly and disassembly time courses (<600 ms) between endocytic patches.
- Showed that actin polymerization limits diffusive motion of endocytic vesicles, rather than driving their movement.
- Observed that the number of endocytic patches is proportional to cell length in fission yeast.
- Revealed underestimated variability in patch distribution between cell tips.
Conclusions:
- The developed tools significantly enhance the quality of data extracted from quantitative microscopy movies.
- New insights into the role of actin dynamics in vesicle formation, movement, and endocytosis have been uncovered.
- The study provides a more accurate understanding of endocytic patch dynamics and distribution in fission yeast.
