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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 27, 2026

Analyzing Craniofacial Morphogenesis in Zebrafish Using 4D Confocal Microscopy
09:16

Analyzing Craniofacial Morphogenesis in Zebrafish Using 4D Confocal Microscopy

Published on: January 30, 2014

Measuring morphogen transport over multiple spatial scales in live zebrafish embryos.

Ashwin V S Nelanuthala1, Bitan Saha1,2, Jagadish Sankaran3

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences and Center for BioImaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.

Nature Communications
|May 25, 2026
PubMed
Summary

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Researchers developed a new microscopy technique to observe how morphogen diffusion slows down in zebrafish embryos. This slowdown, regulated by receptor binding, is essential for proper embryonic development and pattern formation.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Morphogenesis relies on morphogen gradients.
  • Stable morphogen gradients require significantly reduced diffusion.
  • The mechanism for reduced morphogen diffusion has not been directly observed.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a method to directly measure morphogen diffusion in vivo.
  • To investigate the factors influencing morphogen diffusion in early embryos.
  • To understand the role of diffusion in embryonic patterning.

Main Methods:

  • Developed Single-Plane Illumination Microscopy-based spatial Fluorescence Cross-Correlation Spectroscopy (SPIM-sFCCS).
  • Measured the diffusion coefficient of the morphogen Squint in early zebrafish embryos.

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Surgical Size Reduction of Zebrafish for the Study of Embryonic Pattern Scaling
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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 27, 2026

Analyzing Craniofacial Morphogenesis in Zebrafish Using 4D Confocal Microscopy
09:16

Analyzing Craniofacial Morphogenesis in Zebrafish Using 4D Confocal Microscopy

Published on: January 30, 2014

Multi-Photon Time Lapse Imaging to Visualize Development in Real-time: Visualization of Migrating Neural Crest Cells in Zebrafish Embryos
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Multi-Photon Time Lapse Imaging to Visualize Development in Real-time: Visualization of Migrating Neural Crest Cells in Zebrafish Embryos

Published on: August 9, 2017

Surgical Size Reduction of Zebrafish for the Study of Embryonic Pattern Scaling
06:31

Surgical Size Reduction of Zebrafish for the Study of Embryonic Pattern Scaling

Published on: May 3, 2019

  • Analyzed diffusion as a function of topography and length scale.

    • Main Results:

    • Squint's diffusion coefficient is influenced by molecular size, interstitial viscosity, and crowding.
    • Diffusion slows down on length scales related to intercellular space diameter.
    • Receptor binding significantly regulates Squint's diffusion slowdown.

    Conclusions:

    • SPIM-sFCCS enables direct measurement of morphogen diffusion in vivo.
    • Intercellular spaces and receptor binding are key regulators of morphogen diffusion.
    • Controlled morphogen diffusion is critical for establishing gradients and embryonic patterning.