Name: live imaging and analysis of muscle contractions in drosophila embryo
Uploaded: 2019-07-09T12:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Live Imaging and Analysis of Muscle Contractions in Drosophila Embryo at JoVE.com

The project was supported in part by National Institutes of Health Grants RO1 NS099409, NS075534, and CONACYT 2012-037(S) to VP.

1. Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Prepare a fly cage by making approximately 50 holes in a 100 mL capacity tri-corner plastic beaker using a hot 25 G needle (see Table of Materials).</li>
	<li>Prepare 60 mm x 15 mm Petri dishes with apple juice-agar (3% agar and 30% apple juice).</li>
	<li>Prepare fresh yeast paste by mixing dry yeast granules and water. Spread the yeast paste onto the apple agar plates to increase egg laying.</li>
	<li>Anaesthetize about 50-60 flies (use approximately equal numbers of males an...

<ol>
	<li>Pereanu, W., Spindler, S., Im, E., Buu, N., Hartenstein, V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+emergence+of+patterned+movement+during+late+embryogenesis+of+Drosophila.">The emergence of patterned movement during late embryogenesis of Drosophila.</a> Developmental Neurobiology. 67, 1669-1685 (2007).</li><li>Suster, M. L., Bate, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Embryonic+assembly+of+a+central+pattern+generator+without+sensory+input.">Embryonic assembly of a central pattern generator without sensory input.</a> Nature. 416, 174-178 (2002).</li><li>Crisp, S., Evers, J. F., Fiala, A., Bate, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+development+of+motor+coordination+in+Drosophila+embryos.">The development of motor coordination in Drosophila embryos.</a> Development. 135, 3707-3717 (2008).</li><li>Song, W., Onishi, M., Jan, L. Y., Jan, Y. N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Peripheral+multidendritic+sensory+neurons+are+necessary+for+rhythmic+locomotion+behavior+in+Drosophila+larvae.">Peripheral multidendritic sensory neurons are necessary for rhythmic locomotion behavior in Drosophila larvae.</a> Proceedings of National Academy of Science of the United States of America. 104, 5199-5204 (2007).</li><li>Hughes, C. L., Thomas, J. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+sensory+feedback+circuit+coordinates+muscle+activity+in+Drosophila.">A sensory feedback circuit coordinates muscle activity in Drosophila.</a> Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. 35, 383-396 (2007).</li><li>Gorczyca, D. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Identification+of+Ppk26,+a+DEG/ENaC+channel+functioning+with+Ppk1+in+a+mutually+dependent+manner+to+guide+locomotion+behavior+in+Drosophila.">Identification of Ppk26, a DEG/ENaC channel functioning with Ppk1 in a mutually dependent manner to guide locomotion behavior in Drosophila.</a> Cell Reports. 9, 1446-1458 (2014).</li><li>Baker, R., Nakamura, N., Chandel, I., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Protein+O-Mannosyltransferases+affect+sensory+axon+wiring+and+dynamic+chirality+of+body+posture+in+the+Drosophila+embryo.">Protein O-Mannosyltransferases affect sensory axon wiring and dynamic chirality of body posture in the Drosophila embryo.</a> Journal of Neuroscience. 38 (7), 1850-1865 (2018).</li><li>Nakamura, N., Lyalin, D., Panin, V. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Protein+O-mannosylation+in+animal+development+and+physiology:+From+human+Disorders+to+Drosophila+phenotypes.">Protein O-mannosylation in animal development and physiology: From human Disorders to Drosophila phenotypes.</a> Seminars in Cell &amp; Developmental Biology. 21, 622-630 (2010).</li><li>Lyalin, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+twisted+gene+encodes+Drosophila+protein+O-mannosyltransferase+2+and+genetically+interacts+with+the+rotated+abdomen+gene+encoding+Drosophila+protein+O-mannosyltransferase+1.">The twisted gene encodes Drosophila protein O-mannosyltransferase 2 and genetically interacts with the rotated abdomen gene encoding Drosophila protein O-mannosyltransferase 1.</a> Genetics. 172, 343-353 (2006).</li><li>Beltr&#225;n-Valero de Bernabe, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mutations+in+the+O-Mannosyltransferase+gene+POMT1+give+rise+to+the+severe+neuronal+migration+disorder+Walker-Warburg+Syndrome.">Mutations in the O-Mannosyltransferase gene POMT1 give rise to the severe neuronal migration disorder Walker-Warburg Syndrome.</a> American Journal of Human Genetics. 71, 1033-1043 (2002).</li><li>Reeuwijk, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=POMT2+mutations+cause+alpha-dystroglycan+hypoglycosylation+and+Walker-Warburg+syndrome.">POMT2 mutations cause alpha-dystroglycan hypoglycosylation and Walker-Warburg syndrome.</a> Journal of Medical Genetics. 42, 907-912 (2005).</li><li>Jaeken, J., Matthijs, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Congenital+disorders+of+glycosylation:+A+rapidly+expanding+disease+family.">Congenital disorders of glycosylation: A rapidly expanding disease family.</a> Annual Reviews of Genomics and Human Genetics. 8, 261-278 (2007).</li><li>Leyten, Q. H., Gabreels, F. J., Renier, W. O., ter Laak, H. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Congenital+muscular+dystrophy:+a+review+of+the+literature.">Congenital muscular dystrophy: a review of the literature.</a> Clinical and Neurological Neurosurgery. 98 (4), 267-280 (1996).</li><li>Roberts, D. B., Hames, B. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Drosophila:+A+Practical+Approach.+2nd+ed.">Drosophila: A Practical Approach. 2nd ed.</a> The Practical Approach Series. , 389 (1998).</li><li>Heckscher, E. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Even-Skipped++interneurons+are+core+components+of+a+sensorimotor+circuit+that+maintains+left-right+symmetric+muscle+contraction+amplitude.">Even-Skipped+ interneurons are core components of a sensorimotor circuit that maintains left-right symmetric muscle contraction amplitude.</a> Neuron. 88, 314-329 (2015).</li><li>Penjweini, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Long-term+monitoring+of+live+cell+proliferation+in+presence+of+PVP-Hypericin:+a+new+strategy+using+ms+pulses+of+LED+and+the+fluorescent+dye+CFSE.">Long-term monitoring of live cell proliferation in presence of PVP-Hypericin: a new strategy using ms pulses of LED and the fluorescent dye CFSE.</a> J. Microscopy. 245, 100-108 (2011).</li></ol>

Our method provides a quantitative way to analyze important embryo behaviors during development, such as peristaltic muscle contraction waves, including wave periodicity, amplitude and pattern, as well as wave effect on embryo rolling and posture. This can be useful in analyses of different mutants to study the role of specific genes in regulating these and other behaviors during embryonic development. We have used changes in muscle-specific GFP marker intensity to analyze muscle contraction amplitude, frequency and dire...

Peristaltic muscle contraction is a rhythmic motor behavior similar to walking and swimming in humans1,2,3. Embryonic muscle contractions seen in Drosophila late stage embryos represent an example of such a behavior. Drosophila is an excellent model organism to study various developmental processes because embryonic development in Drosophila is well characterized, relatively short, and easy to monitor. The overall goal of our method is to carefully record and analyze the wavelike pattern of contraction and relaxation of embryonic muscles. We used a simple, non-invasive approach that offers a detailed visualization, recording and analysis of muscle contractions. This method can also be potentially used to study other in vivo processes, such as embryonic rolling seen in late stage embryos just prior to hatching. In previous studies, embryonic muscle contractions were mostly analyzed in terms of frequency and direction1,2. In order to estimate the relative extent of contractions as they progress along the body axis in the anterior or posterior direction, we have used embryos expressing GFP specifically in muscles. This analysis provides a more quantitative way to analyze muscle contractions and to reveal how body posture in embryos is maintained during series of peristaltic waves of muscle contractions.
Peristaltic muscle contractions are controlled by central pattern generator (CPG) circuits and communications between neurons of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), the central nervous system (CNS), and muscles4,5. Failure to produce normal peristaltic muscle contractions can lead to defects such as failure to hatch2 and abnormal larval locomotion6 and can be indicative of neurological abnormalities. Live imaging of peristaltic waves of muscle contraction and detailed analysis of contraction phenotypes can help uncover pathogenic mechanisms associated with genetic defects affecting muscles and neural circuits involved in locomotion. We recently used that approach to investigate mechanisms that result in a body posture torsion phenotype of protein O-mannosyltransferase (POMT) mutants7.
Protein O-mannosylation (POM) is a special type of posttranslational modification, where a mannose sugar is added to serine or threonine residues of secretory pathway proteins8,9. Genetic defects in POM cause congenital muscular dystrophies (CMD) in humans10,11,12. We investigated the causative mechanisms of these diseases using Drosophila as a model system. We found that embryos with mutations in Drosophila protein O-mannosyltransferase genes POMT1 and POMT2 (a.k.a. rotated abdomen (rt) and twisted (tw)) show a displacement (&#34;rotation&#34;) of body segments, which results in an abnormal body posture7. Interestingly, this defect coincided with the developmental stage when peristaltic muscle contractions become prominent7.
Since abnormal body posture in POM mutant embryos arises when musculature and epidermis are already formed and peristaltic waves of coordinated muscle contractions have started, we hypothesized that abnormal body posture could be a result of abnormal muscle contractions rather than a defect in muscle or/and epidermis morphology7. CMDs can be associated with abnormal muscle contractions and posture defects13, and thus the analysis of the posture phenotype in Drosophila POMT mutants may elucidate pathological mechanisms associated with muscular dystrophies. In order to investigate the relationship between the body posture phenotype of Drosophila POMT mutants and possible abnormalities in peristaltic waves of muscle contractions, we decided to analyze muscle contractions in detail using a live imaging approach.
Our analysis of peristaltic contraction waves in Drosophila embryos revealed two distinct contraction modes, designated as type 1 and type 2 waves. Type 1 waves are simple waves propagating from anterior to posterior or vice versa. Type 2 waves are biphasic waves that initiate at the anterior end, propagate halfway in the posterior direction, momentarily halt, forming a temporal static contraction, and then, during the second phase, are swept by a peristaltic contraction that propagates forward from the posterior end. Wild-type embryos normally generate a series of contractions that consists of approximately 75% type 1 and 25% type 2 waves. In contrast, POMT mutant embryos generate type 1 and type 2 waves at approximately equal relative frequencies.
Our approach can provide detailed information for quantitative analysis of muscle contractions and embryo rolling7. This approach could also be adapted for analyses of other behaviors involving muscle contractions, such as hatching and crawling.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:771px;" width="771">
	<colgroup>
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
	</colgroup>
	<tbody>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:215px;">Digital camera</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">Hamamatsu CMOS ORCA-Flash 4.0</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">C13440-20CU</td>
			<td style="width:283px;">With different emission filters</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:215px;">Forceps</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">FST Dumont</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">11254-20</td>
			<td>Tip Dimensions 0.05 mm x 0.01 mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:215px;">LED</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">X-cite BDX (Excelitas)</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">XLED1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:215px;">Microscope</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">Carl Ziess Examiner D1</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">491405-0005-000</td>
			<td>Epiflourescence with time lapse</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:215px;">Needle</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">BD&#160;</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">305767</td>
			<td>25 G x 1-1/2 in</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:215px;">Paintbrush</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">Contemporary crafts</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>Any paintbrush will work</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:215px;">Petri dishes</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">25384-164</td>
			<td>60 mm x 15 mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:215px;">Software</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">HCImage Live</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:215px;">Thread Zap Wax pen</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">Thread Zap II (by BeadSmith)(Amazon)</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">TZ1300</td>
			<td>Burner Tool</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="23">
			<td height="23" style="height:23px;width:215px;">Tricorner plastic beaker</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">VWR</td>
			<td>25384-152</td>
			<td>100 mL</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

live imaging and analysis of muscle contractions in drosophila embryo

Coordinated muscle contractions are a form of rhythmic behavior seen early during development in Drosophila embryos. Neuronal sensory feedback circuits are required to control this behavior. Failure to produce the rhythmic pattern of contractions can be indicative of neurological abnormalities. We previously found that defects in protein O-mannosylation, a posttranslational protein modification, affect the axon morphology of sensory neurons and result in abnormal coordinated muscle contractions in embryos. Here, we present a relatively simple method for recording and analyzing the pattern of peristaltic muscle contractions by live imaging of late stage embryos up to the point of hatching, which we used to characterize the muscle contraction phenotype of protein O-mannosyltransferase mutants. Data obtained from these recordings can be used to analyze muscle contraction waves, including frequency, direction of propagation and relative amplitude of muscle contractions at different body segments. We have also examined body posture and taken advantage of a fluorescent marker expressed specifically in muscles to accurately determine the position of the embryo midline. A similar approach can also be utilized to study various other behaviors during development, such as embryo rolling and hatching.

Normal peristaltic muscle contractions are shown in a WT (wild-type, Canton-S) embryo in Movie 1. The average frequency of peristaltic waves of muscle contractions in our analysis was 47 contractions per hour and the average amplitude was 60% above baseline for WT embryos. Embryo rolling is shown for a WT embryo in Movie 2, with the white arrow marking the initial position of a trachea and a black arrow depicting the position of a dorsal appendage. The dorsal appendage (exterio...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Live Imaging and Analysis of Muscle Contractions in Drosophila Embryo at JoVE.com

Live Imaging and Analysis of Muscle Contractions in Drosophila Embryo

Here, we present a method to record embryonic muscle contractions in Drosophila embryos in a non-invasive and detail-oriented manner.

Live Imaging and Analysis of Muscle Contractions in Drosophila Embryo

Coordinated muscle contractions are a form of rhythmic behavior seen early during development in Drosophila embryos. Neuronal sensory feedback circuits ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Developmental Biology

Live-imaging of the Drosophila Pupal Eye

Live-imaging of the Drosophila Pupal Eye

Inherent processes of Drosophila pupal development can shift and distort the eye epithelium in ways that make individual cell behavior difficult to track ...

Analysis of Zebrafish Larvae Skeletal Muscle Integrity with Evans Blue Dye

The zebrafish model is an emerging system for the study of neuromuscular disorders.  In the study of neuromuscular diseases, the integrity of the muscle ...

Observing Mitotic Division and Dynamics in a Live Zebrafish Embryo

Mitosis is critical for organismal growth and differentiation. The process is highly dynamic and requires ordered events to accomplish proper chromatin ...

Long-term Live Imaging of Drosophila Eye Disc

Long-term Live Imaging of Drosophila Eye Disc

Live imaging provides the ability to continuously track dynamic cellular and developmental processes in real time. Drosophila larval imaginal discs have ...

In Vitro Ovule Cultivation for Live-cell Imaging of Zygote Polarization and Embryo Patterning in Arabidopsis thaliana

In Vitro Ovule Cultivation for Live-cell Imaging of Zygote Polarization and Embryo Patterning in Arabidopsis thaliana

In most flowering plants, the zygote and embryo are hidden deep in the mother tissue, and thus it has long been a mystery of how they develop dynamically; ...

Live Imaging of Mouse Secondary Palate Fusion

The fusion of the secondary palatal shelves to form the intact secondary palate is a key process in mammalian development and its disruption can lead to ...

In Vivo Imaging of Muscle-tendon Morphogenesis in Drosophila Pupae

In Vivo Imaging of Muscle-tendon Morphogenesis in Drosophila Pupae

Muscles together with tendons and the skeleton enable animals including humans to move their body parts. Muscle morphogenesis is highly conserved from ...

Preparation of Drosophila Larval and Pupal Testes for Analysis of Cell Division in Live, Intact Tissue

Preparation of Drosophila Larval and Pupal Testes for Analysis of Cell Division in Live, Intact Tissue

Experimental analysis of cells dividing in living, intact tissues and organs is essential to our understanding of how cell division integrates with ...

Imaging Intranuclear Actin Rods in Live Heat Stressed Drosophila Embryos

Imaging Intranuclear Actin Rods in Live Heat Stressed Drosophila Embryos

The purpose of this protocol is to visualize intranuclear actin rods that assemble in live Drosophila melanogaster embryos following heat stress. Actin ...

Drosophila Embryo Preparation and Microinjection for Live Cell Microscopy Performed using an Automated High Content Analyzer

Modern approaches in quantitative live cell imaging have become an essential tool for exploring cell biology, by enabling the use of statistics and ...