4D Microscopy and Tracking of Chromosomes and the Spindle in C. elegans Early Embryos

Maintaining genomic integrity throughout successive cell divisions is essential for the proper development and functioning of organisms. Chromosome alignment and segregation occur on a microtubule-based spindle originating from centrosomes. The molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in accurate chromosome segregation during early embryonic divisions are highly conserved between worms and humans. Therefore, C. elegans serves as a robust model for investigating mitotic cell divisions within a metazoan system. Throughout early embryonic development, filming and tracking successive cell divisions becomes progressively more challenging as the number of cells increases and cell size decreases. To address this challenge, we describe a method for preparing live samples, performing 4D time-lapse imaging, and semi-automated tracking of chromosomes and spindle poles during early mitotic divisions in C. elegans embryos.