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Tracking and Quantifying Developmental Processes in C. elegans Using Open-source Tools
Published on: December 16, 2015
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Systematic analysis of cell morphodynamics in C. elegans early embryogenesis
Yusuke Azuma1, Hatsumi Okada1, Shuichi Onami1
1Laboratory for Developmental Dynamics, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Japan.
Frontiers in Bioinformatics
|April 7, 2023
Summary
Cell morphodynamics in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos show unique patterns for each cell type, with high reproducibility in spatial arrangements despite individual variations. This study quantifies cell shape and contact dynamics during early development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- The invariant cell lineage of Caenorhabditis elegans provides a unique model for studying developmental dynamics at single-cell resolution.
- Limited data exists on cell morphodynamics variability between individual embryos, hindering a comprehensive understanding of early development.
- Quantifying cell shape changes and cell-cell interactions is crucial for understanding embryonic development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically quantify cell morphodynamics in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos during early development.
- To analyze the variability and reproducibility of cell shape, volume, and cell-cell contacts between individual embryos.
- To compare morphodynamic variability in C. elegans with that of ascidian embryos.
Main Methods:
- High spatiotemporal resolution live imaging of 52 Caenorhabditis elegans embryos from the two-cell stage to mid-gastrulation.
- Systematic quantification of cell morphodynamics, including sphericity and volume dynamics.
- Analysis of cell-cell contact reproducibility and comparison with ascidian Phallusia mammillata embryos.
Main Results:
- Identified universal mitotic cell rounding (sphericity increase) but less universal mitotic swelling (volume increase) in C. elegans embryos.
- Demonstrated that cell morphodynamics are unique to each cell type, with pre-gastrulation cells being distinguishable.
- Found high reproducibility in spatial occupancy and cell adjacency (cell-cell contacts < 5% of total area) despite variability in division timing and arrangement.
Conclusions:
- Cell morphodynamics exhibit cell-type-specific characteristics and are influenced by lineage, generation, and cell-cell contact.
- Variability in C. elegans morphodynamics and cell-cell contacts is higher compared to Phallusia mammillata embryos.
- This study provides a quantitative foundation for understanding cell shape dynamics and their variability in early embryonic development.
