Multicolor Cell Lineage Tracing Using MAGIC Markers Strategies

Multicolor MAGIC Markers strategies are useful lineage tracing tools to study brain development at a multicellular scale. In this chapter, we describe an in utero electroporation method to simultaneously label multiple neighboring progenitors and their respective progeny using these multicolor reporters. In utero electroporation enables the introduction of any gene of interest into embryonic neural progenitors lining the brain ventricles through a simple pipeline consisting of a micro-injection followed by the application of electrical pulses. Successful in utero electroporation requires a concise yet complete understanding of each step of the surgical protocol, spanning from the preoperative preparation to the postoperative care, as well as the MAGIC Markers tool outlined in this study. Besides a detailed protocol, we present non-integrative and integrative approaches to demonstrate the range of cell and lineage tracking possibilities of multicolored progenitors and their descent over time.