We thank Susan Gerbi, Heidi Smith, and David Lambert for supplying material to test in-vivo centrifugation on Sciara coprophila and Ilyanassa obsoleta, respectively. We thank members of the Welte lab for comments on the technique and manuscript. Development and refinement of the in-vivo centrifugation assay was supported by NIGMS grant GM64687 to MAW. The images shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 5E,F were previously published2 and are reprinted here with permission.

<ol>
	<li>Wieschaus, E., N&#252;sslein-Volhard, C., Roberts, D. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Looking+at+embryos.">Looking at embryos.</a> Drosophila: A Practical Approach. , 179-214 (1998).</li><li>Cermelli, S., Guo, Y., Gross, S. P., Welte, M. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+lipid+droplet+proteome+reveals+that+droplets+are+a+protein+storage+depot.">The lipid droplet proteome reveals that droplets are a protein storage depot.</a> Curr Biol. 16, 1783-1795 (2006).</li><li>Kiehart, D. P., Crawford, J. M., Montague, R. A., Sullivan, W., Ashburner, M., Hawley, R. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Quantitative+microinjection+of+Drosophila+embryos.">Quantitative microinjection of Drosophila embryos.</a> Drosophila Protocols. , 345-359 (2000).</li><li>LaJeunesse, D. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Three+new+Drosophila+markers+of+intracellular+membranes.">Three new Drosophila markers of intracellular membranes.</a> Biotechniques. 36 (784-788), 790-790 (2004).</li><li>Schuh, M., Lehner, C. F., Heidmann, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Incorporation+of+Drosophila+CID/CENP-A+and+CENP-C+into+centromeres+during+early+embryonic+anaphase.">Incorporation of Drosophila CID/CENP-A and CENP-C into centromeres during early embryonic anaphase.</a> Curr Biol. 17, 237-243 (2007).</li><li>Clarkson, M., Saint, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+His2AvDGFP+fusion+gene+complements+a+lethal+His2AvD+mutant+allele+and+provides+an+in+vivo+marker+for+Drosophila+chromosome+behavior.">A His2AvDGFP fusion gene complements a lethal His2AvD mutant allele and provides an in vivo marker for Drosophila chromosome behavior.</a> DNA Cell Biol. 18, 457-462 (1999).</li><li>Welte, M. A., Gross, S. P., Postner, M., Block, S. M., Wieschaus, E. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Developmental+regulation+of+vesicle+transport+in+Drosophila+embryos:+forces+and+kinetics.">Developmental regulation of vesicle transport in Drosophila embryos: forces and kinetics.</a> Cell. 92, 547-557 (1998).</li><li>Tran, S. L., Welte, M. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=unpublished+observations.">unpublished observations.</a> , .</li><li>Rothwell, W. F., Sullivan, W., Sullivan, W., Ashburner, M., Hawley, R. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fluorescent+analysis+of+Drosophila+embryos.">Fluorescent analysis of Drosophila embryos.</a> Drosophila Protocols. , 141-157 (2000).</li><li>Guo, Y., Jangi, S., Welte, M. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Organelle-specific+Control+of+Intracellular+Transport:+Distinctly+Targeted+Isoforms+of+the+Regulator+Klar.">Organelle-specific Control of Intracellular Transport: Distinctly Targeted Isoforms of the Regulator Klar.</a> Mol Biol Cell. 16, 1406-1416 (2005).</li><li>Meyer, W. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Overlapping+Functions+of+Argonaute+Proteins+in+Patterning+and+Morphogenesis+of+Drosophila+Embryos.">Overlapping Functions of Argonaute Proteins in Patterning and Morphogenesis of Drosophila Embryos.</a> PLoS Genet. 2, 1224-1239 (2006).</li><li>Shubeita, G. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Consequences+of+motor+copy+number+on+the+intracellular+transport+of+kinesin-1-driven+lipid+droplets.">Consequences of motor copy number on the intracellular transport of kinesin-1-driven lipid droplets.</a> Cell. 135, 1098-1107 (2008).</li><li>Welte, M. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Regulation+of+lipid-droplet+transport+by+the+Perilipin+homologue+LSD2.">Regulation of lipid-droplet transport by the Perilipin homologue LSD2.</a> Curr. Biol. 15, 1266-1275 (2005).</li><li>Phadnis, N., Welte, M. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Unpublished+Observations.">Unpublished Observations.</a> , .</li><li>Phadnis, N., Welte, M. 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No conflicts of interest declared.

Critical steps
Make sure that the agar concentration is high enough. If it is too low, the agar will disintegrate during centrifugation, and the embryos will burst or be randomly oriented. If the agar concentration is just slightly too low or if the agar is wet (insufficiently dried or insufficient removal of excess TSS in step 4.3), the embryos will float out of their holes during centrifugation and become improperly oriented. If the agar is poured too thinly, it will also collapse or crack during centrifugation.
Make sure that embryos have not advanced beyond cellularization stages. Otherwise, separation of organelles will not work (Fig. 5C) since organelles will become sequestered within thousands of individual cells. In younger embryos at the one cell stage, organelles are free to migrate large distances and accumulate according to their characteristic density. To avoid analyzing embryos that are too old, make sure to (i) include a pre-collection to allow females to lay old eggs (step 2.4), (ii) collect embryos for 3 hours or less (step 2.5), (iii) visually select embryos before cellularization stages for embedding into agar (step 4.2), (iv) keep embedding time short to prevent development through the end of cellularization (step 4.6), and (v) discard embryos that did not layer correctly (step 5.6).
Do not skimp on the centrifugation time. Although some of the embryos will show nice layering even after only 10 minutes of centrifugation, the separation is inconsistent from embryo to embryo. 30 min spins give highly consistent results. Also, the longer the centrifugation time, the longer the layers are stable after the centrifugation has ended. This is important for those applications in which it takes time to process the embryos further before use (e.g., if they need to be processed for transplantation experiments or mounted for confocal analysis).
Possible modifications
Egg collection and chorion removal Many different protocols exist for steps 2 and 3 1, 3, 9, and will work as well as the ones described here as long as the embryos used are young, egg yield is high, and the fraction of mis-staged embryos is minimized.
Anterior-posterior alignment The protocol orients all embryos such that the posterior end is buried in the agar and the anterior end is up (Fig. 3). This orientation is good for consistency, so that it is possible to use the micropyle as a landmark which end pointed up during centrifugation (Fig. 1, 5). However, with practice, it is easy to pick out the orientation of centrifuged embryos by the distinct appearance of the lipid-droplet and yolk layers by bright-field microscopy. Then it becomes possible to mount embryos with either end up; this flexibility speeds up the mounting process.
Unoriented centrifugation The most-time-consuming and technically challenging aspect of the protocol is mounting the embryos in agar (step 4). It requires touching each embryo twice (once to insert it into the hole and once to recover it after centrifugation). As an alternative, one can transfer embryos at step 4.1 into microcentrifuge tubes filled with TSS. When these tubes are centrifuged in a microcentrifuge (13,000 rpm, 10-30 min), embryos will also typically layer well 10-13. This variation allows one to process hundreds of embryos at the same time very quickly. However, layering is not as consistent; a fraction of the embryos does not develop distinct layers despite much higher centrifugation forces (~16,000 g) than applied in the protocol above. More challenging is the fact that the orientation of the embryos is variable, and one can observe separation at various angles to the major embryo axis. This variability requires the experimenter to sort out after the centrifugation how a particular embryo was arranged in the centrifuge tube. With the use of the yolk autofluorescence as a marker for the most-dense part of the embryo, this is often possible, though it requires much practice and more judgment to do it reliably. If there are sufficient embryos in the sample, one may be able to sort out those instances in which embryos happened to be arranged like in Fig. 1.
Centrifugation of embryos in their egg shell It is possible to embed embryos in agar for step 4 without removing the chorion first 2. In this approach, embryos on the collection plate are covered with halocarbon oil instead of 50% bleach in step 3.2 (halocarbon turns the chorion translucent). Embryos of appropriate stages are selected and transferred to a new agar plate using tweezers; by grabbing only the egg filaments with the tweezers, damage to the embryo proper is avoided. Embryos are embedded as in step 4.4 through 4.8, with the anterior egg filaments sticking up out of the hole in the agar. The egg shell is removed by 50% bleach treatment after the embryos have been centrifuged and dug out of the agar as in step 5.4. Centrifugation in the presence of the egg shell may improve the rate of devitellinization after fixation (step 6.2), but selection of the correct stages for centrifugation (step 4.2) is more challenging.
Applications
Embryo centrifugation is particularly useful for colocalization experiments, i.e., to test if a particular protein localizes to a certain major organelle. For example, the Klar protein is present on early embryonic lipid droplets, yet this localization is challenging to demonstrate in intact embryos. In part, this is because both Klar puncta and lipid droplets are abundant in the embryo periphery 10, making spurious colocalization hard to rule out. However, centrifugation concentrates lipid droplets into a distinct layer, and thus, colocalization with Klar signal becomes obvious 10.
Similar analysis has unambiguously demonstrated the localization of other proteins to lipid droplets 8, 13-15, including surprising examples like certain histones 2 and in cases where a protein is present ubiquitously but enriched on lipid droplets 8. As embryos can be selected visually by developmental stage (step 4.2), it is even possible to detect developmentally regulated recruitment of proteins to lipid droplets 8, 15. Testing for colocalization with lipid droplets is particularly easy since lipid droplets accumulate in a visually distinct "cap", so no further marker or stain is required to identify this layer. In fact, because of its ease and potentially striking visual results (Fig. 1, Fig. 5 D, E), our laboratory employs this technique now routinely as a first test whether a candidate protein is localized to lipid droplets. In principle, similar colocalization studies should work for the other organelles shown in Fig. 1, and likely for others (including intracellular parasites) whose distribution in centrifuged embryos has yet to be documented.
Since centrifugation concentrates organelles into tight bands, it facilitates isolation of a fraction enriched in these organelles. This approach has already been used to recover lipid droplets for transplantation into donor embryos 2. It may also be possible to biochemically analyze the enriched fraction (e.g., by cutting layers off embryos after fixation 15).
The method described here has applications beyond Drosophila embryos, as centrifugation can be used to stratify the eggs of many different species (including frogs, nematodes, tunicates, annelids, sea urchins, mollusks, and Cnidarians) 16. In our own laboratory, we have used the protocol above for embryos of the housefly Musca domestica 2 and have employed unoriented centrifugation in the analysis of embryos from the fungus gnat Sciara coprophila 17 and the snail Ilyanassa obsoleta 17. Finally, this method is not restricted to embryos: Centrifugation can also be useful to stratify other large cells, such as oocytes (e.g., in Drosophila 2, 18 and the milkweed bug Oncopeltus fasciatus 17). For different specimen, the exact centrifugation conditions need to be optimized: For example, 10 minutes at 3000 g is sufficient to efficiently stratify embryos of Musca domestica 2, and if centrifuged much longer, the embryos tend to break apart during fixation and immunostaining.

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<td>60x15 mm Petri dishes</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Becton Dickinson</td>
<td>#35-1007</td>
<td>From Falcon</td>
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<td>Wire mesh</td>
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<td>CX-0150</td>
<td>stainless steel type 304; mesh size #150 x150, wire diameter: 0.0026 inches</td>
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<td>Tungsten needles</td>
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<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
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<td>Moria Nickel Plated Pin/Needle Holder</td>
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in-vivo centrifugation of drosophila embryos

A major strategy for purifying and isolating different types of intracellular organelles is to separate them from each other based on differences in buoyant density. However, when cells are disrupted prior to centrifugation, proteins and organelles in this non-native environment often inappropriately stick to each other. Here we describe a method to separate organelles by density in intact, living Drosophila embryos. Early embryos before cellularization are harvested from population cages, and their outer egg shells are removed by treatment with 50% bleach. Embryos are then transferred to a small agar plate and inserted, posterior end first, into small vertical holes in the agar. The plates containing embedded embryos are centrifuged for 30 min at 3000g. The agar supports the embryos and keeps them in a defined orientation. Afterwards, the embryos are dug out of the agar with a blunt needle. Centrifugation separates major organelles into distinct layers, a stratification easily visible by bright-field microscopy. A number of fluorescent markers are available to confirm successful stratification in living embryos. Proteins associated with certain organelles will be enriched in a particular layer, demonstrating colocalization. Individual layers can be recovered for biochemical analysis or transplantation into donor eggs. This technique is applicable for organelle separation in other large cells, including the eggs and oocytes of diverse species.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about In-vivo Centrifugation of Drosophila Embryos at JoVE.com

In-vivo Centrifugation of Drosophila Embryos

We describe a method to separate organelles by density in living Drosophila embryos. Embryos are embedded in agar and centrifuged. This technique yields reproducible separation of major organelles along the anterior-posterior embryo axis. This method facilitates colocalization experiments and yields organelle fractions for biochemical analysis and transplantation experiments.

In-vivo Centrifugation of Drosophila Embryos

A major strategy for purifying and isolating different types of intracellular organelles is to separate them from each other based on differences in ...

in-vivo-centrifugation-of-drosophila-embryos

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18.3K Views.  University of Rochester. We describe a method to separate organelles by density in living Drosophila embryos. Embryos are embedded in agar and centrifuged. This technique yields reproducible separation of major organelles along the anterior-posterior embryo axis. This method facilitates colocalization experiments and yields organelle fractions for biochemical analysis and transplantation experiments.

Video: In-vivo Centrifugation of Drosophila Embryos

Preparation of Neuronal Cultures from Midgastrula Stage Drosophila Embryos

This video illustrates the procedure for making primary neuronal cultures from midgastrula stage Drosophila embryos. The methods for collecting embryos and their dechorionation using bleach are demonstrated. Using a glass pipet attached to a mouth suction tube, we illustrate the removal of all cells from single embryos. The method for dispersing cells from each embyro into a small (5 l) drop of medium on an uncoated glass coverslip is demonstrated. A view through the microscope at 1 hour after plating illustrates the preferred cell density. Most of the cells that survive when grown in defined medium are neuroblasts that divide one or more times in culture before extending neuritic processes by 12-24 hours. A view through the microscope illustrates the level of neurite outgrowth and branching expected in a healthy culture at 2 days in vitro. The cultures are grown in a simple bicarbonate based defined medium, in a 5% CO2 incubator at 22-24&deg;C. Neuritic processes continue to elaborate over the first week in culture and when they make contact with neurites from neighboring cells they often form functional synaptic connections. Neurons in these cultures express voltage-gated sodium, calcium, and potassium channels and are electrically excitable. This culture system is useful for studying molecular genetic and environmental factors that regulate neuronal differentiation, excitability, and synapse formation/function.

This video demonstrates the preparation of primary neuronal cultures from midgastrula stage Drosophila embryos. Views of live cultures show cells 1 hour after plating and differentiated neurons after 2 days of growth in a bicarbonate-based defined medium. The neurons are electrically excitable and form synaptic connections.

This video illustrates the procedure for making primary neuronal cultures from midgastrula stage Drosophila embryos. The methods for collecting embryos ...

The Preparation of Drosophila Embryos for Live-Imaging Using the Hanging Drop Protocol

Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-based timelapse live-imaging is a powerful technique for studying the genetic regulation of dynamic processes such as tissue morphogenesis, cell-cell adhesion, or cell death. Drosophila embryos expressing GFP are readily imaged using either stereoscopic or confocal microscopy. A goal of any live-imaging protocol is to minimize detrimental effects such as dehydration and hypoxia. Previous protocols for preparing Drosophila embryos for live-imaging analysis have involved placing dechorionated embryos in halocarbon oil and sandwiching them between a halocarbon gas-permeable membrane and a coverslip1-3. The introduction of compression through mounting embryos in this manner represents an undesirable complication for any biomechanical-based analysis of morphogenesis. Our method, which we call the hanging drop protocol, results in excellent viability of embryos during live imaging and does not require that embryos be compressed. Briefly, the hanging drop protocol involves the placement of embryos in a drop of halocarbon oil that is suspended from a coverslip, which is, in turn, fixed in position over a humid chamber. In addition to providing gas exchange and preventing dehydration, this arrangement takes advantage of the buoyancy of embryos in halocarbon oil to prevent them from drifting out of position during timelapse acquisition. This video describes in detail how to collect and prepare Drosophila embryos for live imaging using the hanging drop protocol. This protocol is suitable for imaging dechorionated embryos using stereomicroscopy or any upright compound fluorescence microscope.

The Preparation of Drosophila Embryos for Live-Imaging Using the Hanging Drop Protocol

A simple, inexpensive, and effective method of preparing Drosophila embryos for live-imaging analysis is presented. Our protocol provides humidity and gas exchange and does not compress the Drosophila embryo. This method is suitable for GFP-based live imaging of Drosophila embryos using a stereomicroscope or upright compound microscope.

Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-based timelapse live-imaging is a powerful technique for studying the genetic regulation of dynamic processes such as ...

Harvesting and Preparing Drosophila Embryos for Electrophysiological Recording and Other Procedures

Drosophila is a premier genetic model for the study of both embryonic development and functional neuroscience. Traditionally, these fields are quite isolated from each other, with largely independent histories and scientific communities. However, the interface between these usually disparate fields is the developmental programs underlying acquisition of functional electrical signaling properties and differentiation of functional chemical synapses during the final phases of neural circuit formation. This interface is a critically important area for investigation. In Drosophila, these phases of functional development occur during a period of &lt;8 hours (at 25&deg;C) during the last third of embryogenesis. This late developmental period was long considered intractable to investigation owing to the deposition of a tough, impermeable epidermal cuticle. A breakthrough advance was the application of water-polymerizing surgical glue that can be locally applied to the cuticle to enable controlled dissection of late-stage embryos. With a dorsal longitudinal incision, the embryo can be laid flat, exposing the ventral nerve cord and body wall musculature to experimental investigation. This system has been heavily used to isolate and characterize genetic mutants that impair embryonic synapse formation, and thus reveal the molecular mechanisms governing the specification and differentiation of synapse connections and functional synaptic signaling properties.

Harvesting and Preparing Drosophila Embryos for Electrophysiological Recording and Other Procedures

This technique exposes the Drosophila embryonic neuromusculature for immunohistochemistry or electrophysiological recording. It is useful for studying early events in neuromuscular development or performing electrophysiology in mutants that cannot hatch.

Drosophila is a premier genetic model for the study of both embryonic development and functional neuroscience. Traditionally, these fields are quite ...

Mesoscopic Fluorescence Tomography for In-vivo Imaging of Developing Drosophila

Visualizing developing organ formation as well as progession and treatment of disease often heavily relies on the ability to optically interrogate molecular and functional changes in intact living organisms. Most existing optical imaging methods are inadequate for imaging at dimensions that lie between the penetration limits of modern optical microscopy (0.5-1mm) and the diffusion-imposed limits of optical macroscopy (&gt;1cm) [1]. Thus, many important model organisms, e.g. insects, animal embryos or small animal extremities, remain inaccessible for in-vivo optical imaging. 
Although there is increasing interest towards the development of nanometer-resolution optical imaging methods, there have not been many successful efforts in improving the imaging penetration depth. The ability to perform in-vivo imaging beyond microscopy limits is in fact met with the difficulties associated with photon scattering present in tissues. Recent efforts to image entire embryos for example [2,3] require special chemical treatment of the specimen, to clear them from scattering, a procedure that makes them suitable only for post-mortem imaging. These methods however evidence the need for imaging larger specimens than the ones usually allowed by two-photon or confocal microscopy, especially in developmental biology and in drug discovery.
We have developed a new optical imaging technique named Mesoscopic Fluorescence Tomography [4], which appropriate for non-invasive in-vivo imaging at dimensions of 1mm-5mm. The method exchanges resolution for penetration depth, but offers unprecedented tomographic imaging performance and it has been developed to add time as a new dimension in developmental biology observations (and possibly other areas of biological research) by imparting the ability to image the evolution of fluorescence-tagged responses over time. As such it can accelerate studies of morphological or functional dependencies on gene mutations or external stimuli, and can importantly, capture the complete picture of development or tissue function by allowing longitudinal time-lapse visualization of the same, developing organism.
The technique utilizes a modified laboratory microscope and multi-projection illumination to collect data at 360-degree projections. It applies the Fermi simplification to Fokker-Plank solution of the photon transport equation, combined with geometrical optics principles in order to build a realistic inversion scheme suitable for mesoscopic range. This allows in-vivo whole-body visualization of non-transparent three-dimensional structures in samples up to several millimeters in size.
We have demonstrated the in-vivo performance of the technique by imaging three-dimensional structures of developing Drosophila tissues in-vivo and by following the morphogenesis of the wings in the opaque Drosophila pupae in real time over six consecutive hours.

Mesoscopic Fluorescence Tomography for In-vivo Imaging of Developing Drosophila

Mesoscopic fluorescence tomography operates beyond the penetration limits of tissue-sectioning fluorescence microscopy. The technique is based on multi-projection illumination and a photon transport description. We demonstrate in-vivo whole-body 3D visualization of the morphogenesis of GFP-expressing wing imaginal discs in Drosophila melanogaster.

Visualizing  developing organ formation as well as progession and treatment of disease often  heavily relies on the ability to optically interrogate ...

Preparation of embryos for Electron Microscopy of the Drosophila embryonic heart tube

The morphogenesis of the Drosophila embryonic heart tube has emerged as a valuable model system for studying cell migration, cell-cell adhesion and cell shape changes during embryonic development. One of the challenges faced in studying this structure is that the lumen of the heart tube, as well as the membrane features that are crucial to heart tube formation, are difficult to visualize in whole mount embryos, due to the small size of the heart tube and intra-lumenal space relative to the embryo. The use of transmission electron microscopy allows for higher magnification of these structures and gives the advantage of examining the embryos in cross section, which easily reveals the size and shape of the lumen. In this video, we detail the process for reliable fixation, embedding, and sectioning of late stage Drosophila embryos in order to visualize the heart tube lumen as well as important cellular structures including cell-cell junctions and the basement membrane.

Preparation of embryos for Electron Microscopy of the Drosophila embryonic heart tube

We describe a process for fixation, embedding, sectioning, and imaging of late stage Drosophila embryos for Trasmission Electron Microscopy of the embryonic heart tube. This technique allows for the visualization of the heart tube lumen as well as the basement membrane, which lines the lumen of the heart.

The morphogenesis of the Drosophila  embryonic heart tube has emerged as a valuable model system for studying cell migration, cell-cell adhesion and cell ...

Upright Imaging of Drosophila Embryos

Several well-known morphogenetic gradients and cellular movements occur along the dorsal/ventral axis of the Drosophila embryo. However, the current techniques used to view such processes are somewhat limited. The following protocol describes a new technique for mounting fixed and labeled Drosophila embryos for coronal viewing with confocal imaging. This method consists of embedding embryos between two layers of glycerin jelly mounting media, and imaging jelly strips positioned upright. The first step for sandwiching the embryos is to make a thin bedding of glycerin jelly on a slide. Next, embryos are carefully aligned on this surface and covered with a second layer of jelly. After the second layer is solidified, strips of jelly are cut and flipped upright for imaging. Alternatives are described for visualizing the embryos depending upon the type of microscope stand to be used. Since all cells along the dorsal-ventral axis are imaged within a single confocal Z-plane, our method allows precise measurement and comparison of fluorescent signals without photobleaching or light scattering common to 3D reconstructions of longitudinally mounted embryos.

Upright Imaging of Drosophila Embryos

Here we present a mounting protocol for stained Drosophila embryos in an upright position that allows imaging of cross-sections using Confocal microscopy.

Several well-known morphogenetic gradients and cellular movements occur along the dorsal/ventral axis of the Drosophila embryo. However, the current ...

Primary Cell Cultures from Drosophila Gastrula Embryos

Here we describe a method for preparing and culturing primary cells dissociated from Drosophila gastrula embryos. In brief, a large amount of staged embryos from young and healthy flies are collected, sterilized, and then physically dissociated into a single cell suspension using a glass homogenizer. After being plated on culture plates or chamber slides at an appropriate density in culture medium, these cells can further differentiate into several morphologically-distinct cell types, which can be identified by their specific cell markers. Furthermore, we present conditions for treating these cells with double stranded (ds) RNAs to elicit gene knockdown. Efficient RNAi in Drosophila primary cells is accomplished by simply bathing the cells in dsRNA-containing culture medium. The ability to carry out effective RNAi perturbation, together with other molecular, biochemical, cell imaging analyses, will allow a variety of questions to be answered in Drosophila primary cells, especially those related to differentiated muscle and neuronal cells.

Primary Cell Cultures from Drosophila Gastrula Embryos

We provide a detailed protocol for preparing primary cells dissociated from Drosophila embryos. The ability to carry out the effective RNAi perturbation, together with other molecular, biochemical and cell imaging methods will allow a variety of questions to be addressed in Drosophila primary cells.

Here we describe a method for preparing and culturing primary cells dissociated from Drosophila gastrula embryos.   In brief, a large amount of staged ...

In vivo Imaging of Intact Drosophila Larvae at Sub-cellular Resolution

Recent improvements in optical imaging, genetically encoded fluorophores and genetic tools allowing efficient establishment of desired transgenic animal lines have enabled biological processes to be studied in the context of a living, and in some instances even behaving, organism. In this protocol we will describe how to anesthetize intact Drosophila larvae, using the volatile anesthetic desflurane, to follow the development and plasticity of synaptic populations at sub-cellular resolution1-3. While other useful methods to anesthetize Drosophila melanogaster larvae have been previously described4,5,6,7,8, the protocol presented herein demonstrates significant improvements due to the following combined key features: (1) A very high degree of anesthetization; even the heart beat is arrested allowing for lateral resolution of up to 150 nm1, (2) a high survival rate of &gt; 90% per anesthetization cycle, permitting the recording of more than five time-points over a period of hours to days2 and (3) a high sensitivity enabling us in 2 instances to study the dynamics of proteins expressed at physiological levels. In detail, we were able to visualize the postsynaptic glutamate receptor subunit GluR-IIA expressed via the endogenous promoter1 in stable transgenic lines and the exon trap line FasII-GFP1. (4) In contrast to other methods4,7 the larvae can be imaged not only alive, but also intact (i.e. non-dissected) allowing observation to occur over a number of days1. The accompanying video details the function of individual parts of the in vivo imaging chamber2,3, the correct mounting of the larvae, the anesthetization procedure, how to re-identify specific positions within a larva and the safe removal of the larvae from the imaging chamber.

In vivo Imaging of Intact Drosophila Larvae at Sub-cellular Resolution

This protocol describes a reliable method for anesthetization and imaging of intact Drosophila melanogaster larvae. We have utilized the volatile anesthetic desflurane to allow for repetitive imaging at sub-cellular resolution and re-identification of structures for up to a few days1.

Recent improvements in optical imaging, genetically encoded fluorophores and genetic tools allowing efficient establishment of desired transgenic animal ...

RNAi Interference by dsRNA Injection into Drosophila Embryos

Genetic screening is one of the most powerful methods available for gaining insights into complex biological process 1. Over the years many improvements and tools for genetic manipulation have become available in Drosophila 2. Soon after the initial discovery by Frie and Mello 3 that double stranded RNA can be used to knockdown the activity of individual genes in Caenorhabditis elegans, RNA interference (RNAi) was shown to provide a powerful reverse genetic approach to analyze gene functions in Drosophila organ development 4, 5.
Many organs, including lung, kidney, liver, and vascular system, are composed of branched tubular networks that transport vital fluids or gases 6, 7. The analysis of Drosophila tracheal formation provides an excellent model system to study the morphogenesis of other tubular organs 8. The Berkeley Drosophila genome project has revealed hundreds of genes that are expressed in the tracheal system. To study the molecular and cellular mechanism of tube formation, the challenge is to understand the roles of these genes in tracheal development. Here, we described a detailed method of dsRNA injection into Drosophila embryo to knockdown individual gene expression. We successfully knocked down endogenous dysfusion(dys) gene expression by dsRNA injection. Dys is a bHLH-PAS protein expressed in tracheal fusion cells, and it is required for tracheal branch fusion 9, 10. dys-RNAi completely eliminated dys expression and resulted in tracheal fusion defect. This relatively simple method provides a tool to identify genes requried for tissure and organ development in Drosophila.

RNAi Interference by dsRNA Injection into Drosophila Embryos

RNA interference has been proven very effective to analyze gene function in Drosophila tracheal development. A detailed protocol used by Jiang lab to inject dsRNA into fly embryos to knockdown gene expression is illustrated. This technique has the potential for screening genes required for tissue and organ development in Drosophila.

Genetic screening is one of the most powerful methods available for gaining insights into complex biological process 1. Over the years many improvements ...

Imaging Cell Shape Change in Living Drosophila Embryos

The developing Drosophila melanogaster embryo undergoes a number of cell shape changes that are highly amenable to live confocal imaging. Cell shape changes in the fly are analogous to those in higher organisms, and they drive tissue morphogenesis. So, in many cases, their study has direct implications for understanding human disease (Table 1)1-5. On the sub-cellular scale, these cell shape changes are the product of activities ranging from gene expression to signal transduction, cell polarity, cytoskeletal remodeling and membrane trafficking. Thus, the Drosophila embryo provides not only the context to evaluate cell shape changes as they relate to tissue morphogenesis, but also offers a completely physiological environment to study the sub-cellular activities that shape cells.
The protocol described here is designed to image a specific cell shape change called cellularization. Cellularization is a process of dramatic plasma membrane growth, and it ultimately converts the syncytial embryo into the cellular blastoderm. That is, at interphase of mitotic cycle 14, the plasma membrane simultaneously invaginates around each of ~6000 cortically anchored nuclei to generate a sheet of primary epithelial cells. Counter to previous suggestions, cellularization is not driven by Myosin-2 contractility6, but is instead fueled largely by exocytosis of membrane from internal stores7. Thus, cellularization is an excellent system for studying membrane trafficking during cell shape changes that require plasma membrane invagination or expansion, such as cytokinesis or transverse-tubule (T-tubule) morphogenesis in muscle.
Note that this protocol is easily applied to the imaging of other cell shape changes in the fly embryo, and only requires slight adaptations such as changing the stage of embryo collection, or using "embryo glue" to mount the embryo in a specific orientation (Table 1)8-19. In all cases, the workflow is basically the same (Figure 1). Standard methods for cloning and Drosophila transgenesis are used to prepare stable fly stocks that express a protein of interest, fused to Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) or its variants, and these flies provide a renewable source of embryos. Alternatively, fluorescent proteins/probes are directly introduced into fly embryos via straightforward micro-injection techniques9-10. Then, depending on the developmental event and cell shape change to be imaged, embryos are collected and staged by morphology on a dissecting microscope, and finally positioned and mounted for time-lapse imaging on a confocal microscope.

Imaging Cell Shape Change in Living Drosophila Embryos

Early development of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is characterized by a number of cell shape changes that are well suited for imaging approaches. This article will describe basic tools and methods required for live confocal imaging of Drosophila embryos, and will focus on a cell shape change called cellularization.

The developing Drosophila melanogaster embryo undergoes a number of cell shape changes that are highly amenable to live confocal imaging.  Cell shape ...