Name: computational analysis of the caenorhabditis elegans germline to study the distribution of nuclei, proteins, and the cytoskeleton
Uploaded: 2018-04-19T12:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Computational Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline to Study the Distribution of Nuclei, Proteins, and the Cytoskeleton at JoVE.com

Wij danken Monash Microimaging voor hun technische ondersteuning. Sommige stammen werden verstrekt door de Caenorhabditis genetica Center, dat wordt gefinancierd door de NIH kantoor van infrastructuur onderzoeksprogramma (P40 OD010440). Dit werk werd ondersteund door een Monash University biogeneeskunde Discovery Fellowship NHMRC projectsubsidie (GNT1105374), NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship (GNT1137645) en veski innovatie fellowship: VIF 23 tot en met Roger Pocock.

1. voorbereiding en Worm veehouderij
Opmerking: Raadpleeg Tabel van materialen voor alle productinformatie.
<ol><li>OP50 Escherichia coli cultuur: cultuur van OP50 bacteriën in lysogenie Bouillon (LB) (1% trypton gist van 0,5%, 0,5% NaCl, pH 7,0) 's nachts bij 37 ° C zonder antibiotica.</li>
	<li>Zaad van 400 µL van OP50 bacteriën aan nematode groei media (NGM) platen (1,5 g NaCl, 8,5 g agar, 1,25 g pepton, 1 mL van de 1 M CaCl2, 1 mL 5 mg/mL choleste...

<ol>
	<li>Hubbard, E. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Caenorhabditis+elegans+germ+line:+a+model+for+stem+cell+biology.">Caenorhabditis elegans germ line: a model for stem cell biology.</a> Dev Dyn. 236 (12), 3343-3357 (2007).</li><li>Joshi, P. M., Riddle, M. R., Djabrayan, N. J., Rothman, J. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Caenorhabditis+elegans+as+a+model+for+stem+cell+biology.">Caenorhabditis elegans as a model for stem cell biology.</a> Dev Dyn. 239 (5), 1539-1554 (2010).</li><li>Kershner, 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=Germline+stem+cells+and+their+regulation+in+the+nematode+Caenorhabditis+elegans.">Germline stem cells and their regulation in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.</a> Adv Exp Med Biol. 786, 29-46 (2013).</li><li>Byrd, D. T., Knobel, K., Affeldt, K., Crittenden, S. L., Kimble, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+DTC+niche+plexus+surrounds+the+germline+stem+cell+pool+in+Caenorhabditis+elegans.">A DTC niche plexus surrounds the germline stem cell pool in Caenorhabditis elegans.</a> PLoS One. 9 (2), 88372 (2014).</li><li>Kimble, J., Crittenden, S. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Controls+of+germline+stem+cells,+entry+into+meiosis,+and+the+sperm/oocyte+decision+in+Caenorhabditis+elegans.">Controls of germline stem cells, entry into meiosis, and the sperm/oocyte decision in Caenorhabditis elegans.</a> Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol. 23, 405-433 (2007).</li><li>Hansen, D., Hubbard, E. J., Schedl, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Multi-pathway+control+of+the+proliferation+versus+meiotic+development+decision+in+the+Caenorhabditis+elegans+germline.">Multi-pathway control of the proliferation versus meiotic development decision in the Caenorhabditis elegans germline.</a> Dev Biol. 268 (2), 342-357 (2004).</li><li>Crittenden, S. L., 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=A+conserved+RNA-binding+protein+controls+germline+stem+cells+in+Caenorhabditis+elegans.">A conserved RNA-binding protein controls germline stem cells in Caenorhabditis elegans.</a> Nature. 417 (6889), 660-663 (2002).</li><li>Eckmann, C. R., Crittenden, S. L., Suh, N., Kimble, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=GLD-3+and+control+of+the+mitosis/meiosis+decision+in+the+germline+of+Caenorhabditis+elegans.">GLD-3 and control of the mitosis/meiosis decision in the germline of Caenorhabditis elegans.</a> Genetics. 168 (1), 147-160 (2004).</li><li>Schumacher, B., 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=Translational+repression+of+C.+elegans+p53+by+GLD-1+regulates+DNA+damage-induced+apoptosis.">Translational repression of C. elegans p53 by GLD-1 regulates DNA damage-induced apoptosis.</a> Cell. 120 (3), 357-368 (2005).</li><li>McMullen, P. 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=Macro-level+modeling+of+the+response+of+C.+elegans+reproduction+to+chronic+heat+stress.">Macro-level modeling of the response of C. elegans reproduction to chronic heat stress.</a> PLoS Comput Biol. 8 (1), 1002338 (2012).</li><li>Hubbard, E. J., Korta, D. Z., Dalfo, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Physiological+control+of+germline+development.">Physiological control of germline development.</a> Adv Exp Med Biol. 757, 101-131 (2013).</li><li>Wolke, U., Jezuit, E. A., Priess, J. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Actin-dependent+cytoplasmic+streaming+in+C.+elegans+oogenesis.">Actin-dependent cytoplasmic streaming in C. elegans oogenesis.</a> Development. 134 (12), 2227-2236 (2007).</li><li>Jones, A. R., Francis, R., Schedl, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=GLD-1,+a+cytoplasmic+protein+essential+for+oocyte+differentiation,+shows+stage-+and+sex-specific+expression+during+Caenorhabditis+elegans+germline+development.">GLD-1, a cytoplasmic protein essential for oocyte differentiation, shows stage- and sex-specific expression during Caenorhabditis elegans germline development.</a> Dev Biol. 180 (1), 165-183 (1996).</li><li>Hasegawa, E., Karashima, T., Sumiyoshi, E., Yamamoto, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=C.+elegans+CPB-3+interacts+with+DAZ-1+and+functions+in+multiple+steps+of+germline+development.">C. elegans CPB-3 interacts with DAZ-1 and functions in multiple steps of germline development.</a> Dev Biol. 295 (2), 689-699 (2006).</li><li>Austin, J., Kimble, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=glp-1+is+required+in+the+germ+line+for+regulation+of+the+decision+between+mitosis+and+meiosis+in+C.+elegans.">glp-1 is required in the germ line for regulation of the decision between mitosis and meiosis in C. elegans.</a> Cell. 51 (4), 589-599 (1987).</li><li>Berry, L. W., Westlund, B., Schedl, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Germ-line+tumor+formation+caused+by+activation+of+glp-1,+a+Caenorhabditis+elegans+member+of+the+Notch+family+of+receptors.">Germ-line tumor formation caused by activation of glp-1, a Caenorhabditis elegans member of the Notch family of receptors.</a> Development. 124 (4), 925-936 (1997).</li><li>Fox, P. M., Schedl, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Analysis+of+Germline+Stem+Cell+Differentiation+Following+Loss+of+GLP-1+Notch+Activity+in+Caenorhabditis+elegans.">Analysis of Germline Stem Cell Differentiation Following Loss of GLP-1 Notch Activity in Caenorhabditis elegans.</a> Genetics. 201 (1), 167-184 (2015).</li><li>Pasierbek, P., 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=A+Caenorhabditis+elegans+cohesion+protein+with+functions+in+meiotic+chromosome+pairing+and+disjunction.">A Caenorhabditis elegans cohesion protein with functions in meiotic chromosome pairing and disjunction.</a> Genes and Development. 15 (11), 1349-1360 (2001).</li><li>Klass, M., Wolf, N., Hirsh, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Development+of+the+male+reproductive+system+and+sexual+transformation+in+the+nematode+Caenorhabditis+elegans.">Development of the male reproductive system and sexual transformation in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.</a> Dev Biol. 52 (1), 1-18 (1976).</li><li>Korta, D. Z., Tuck, S., Hubbard, E. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=S6K+links+cell+fate,+cell+cycle+and+nutrient+response+in+C.+elegans+germline+stem/progenitor+cells.">S6K links cell fate, cell cycle and nutrient response in C. elegans germline stem/progenitor cells.</a> Development. 139 (5), 859-870 (2012).</li><li>Laband, K., 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=Chromosome+segregation+occurs+by+microtubule+pushing+in+oocytes.">Chromosome segregation occurs by microtubule pushing in oocytes.</a> Nat Commun. 8 (1), 1499 (2017).</li></ol>

Het doel van dit protocol is minder tijd nodig voor germline analyse te verbeteren van de nauwkeurigheid. Na standaard voorbereiding van ontleed germlines, wordt een driedimensionaal model van germline kernen bereid door computationele renderen. Terwijl het toestaan van de waarneming van germline kernen distributie in de ruimte, berekent driedimensionaal renderen het aantal kernen op specifieke regio's van de kiemcellen. De kritische aspect van onze methode is nauwkeurige definitie van grootte en vorm parameters van kern...

De instandhouding van de signalering trajecten met zoogdieren maakt C. elegans een uitstekend model voor het bestuderen van meerdere biologische processen1,2. In ons lab gebruiken we de C. elegans germline te bestuderen van de cel van de stam ontwikkeling, apoptosis en genexpressie. Terwijl de germline een driedimensionale structuur is, zijn veel studies twee dimensionale het tijdrovend en arbeidsintensief karakter van drie-dimensionale analyse. Het is zeer waarschijnlijk dat de twee-dimensionale analyse in vivo gebeurtenissen in de kiemcellen kan verkeerd. De volwassen hermafrodiet van C. elegans heeft twee germline armen, die elk een somatische distale tip-cel (DTC) die distale kiemcellen in een ongedifferentieerde staat3,4 onderhoudthuizen. Deze geslachtscellen beginnen te onderscheiden als ze verder weg van de DTC, ontsnappen aan haar invloed, en worden eicellen en sperma als ze het proximale einde van de germline bereikt. Tijdens dit proces ondergaan kiem celkernen mitose, vóór de overgang naar de meiose5,6. Productie van zaadcellen wordt gecompleteerd door larvale stadium 4 (L4) van de ontwikkeling, waarna eicellen worden geproduceerd tijdens de volwassenheid. De zaadcellen worden opgeslagen in de spermatheca waar ze eicellen bevruchten tot embryo's.
Er zijn meerdere genetische en ecologische factoren die invloed kunnen uitoefenen op germline ontwikkeling in C. elegans wat resulteert in veranderingen in het aantal kernen, aantal apoptotic evenementen, de dynamiek van het chromosoom, en eiwit expressie en/of lokalisatie7 ,8,9,10,11. De analyse van deze gebeurtenissen vereist de identificatie van elke fase van differentiatie op basis van nucleaire morfologie en distributie. Om deze parameters handmatig met de grootte van een grote steekproef nauwkeurig te analyseren is arbeidsintensief en tijdrovend. Om deze nadelen te omzeilen en om de consistentie van analyse, ontwikkelden we een automatische methode voor driedimensionale onderzoek van de C. elegans germline voor kernen tellen, kernen distributie, eiwit expressie, en cytoskeletal structuur. Door het combineren van confocale microscopie met driedimensionale rendering, we genereerden grootte en vorm parameters voor de identificatie van elk stadium van de kiem celdifferentiatie. Deze methode kan verder tellen van geslachtscellen kernen en sperma plus scoring van chromosoom nummer in elke oöcyt.
Een cruciale structuur in de kiemcellen is het cytoskelet, waarmee de stabiliteit germline compartiment aids cytoplasmatische streaming en bescherming tot germline kernen12. Met behulp van computationele rendering, we drie-dimensionale reconstructie van het cytoskelet germline uitgevoerd en afzonderlijke cytoskeletal functies binnen de germline geïdentificeerd. Hier beschrijven we een stapsgewijze protocol om te illustreren hoe computationele analyse gecombineerd met confocal imaging maakt uitgebreide analyse van de C. elegans germline.
Wij stellen voor een snelle methode voor de drie-dimensionale analyse van C. elegans germline (Figuur 1). Met behulp van drie-dimensionale analyse, is het mogelijk om te studeren het driedimensionale distributie van germline kernen (Figuur 2 en Figuur 3), geautomatiseerde tellen van cellen (Figuur 2), reconstructie van het cytoskelet germline ( Figuur 3), distributie van eiwitten (Figuur 4), en het aantal zaadcellen in de spermatheca en chromosomen in eicellen (Figuur 5) scoren. De methode kan niet alleen gemakkelijk en nauwkeurig kwantificering van de germline maar identificeert fysiologisch relevante fenotypen.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:933px;" width="934">
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	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:335px;">C. elegans strains: wild type (N2, Bristol), rnp-8(tm2435) I/hT2[bli-4(e937) let-?(q782) qIs48] (I;III), cpb-3(bt17) I, glp-1 (e2141) III&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:264px;">Caenorhabditis Genetics Center (CGC)</td>
			<td style="width:168px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">OP50 Escherichia coli bacteria</td>
			<td style="width:264px;">Homemade</td>
			<td style="width:168px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Nematode Growth Media (NGM) plates</td>
			<td style="width:264px;">Homemade</td>
			<td style="width:168px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">polyclonal rabbit anti-REC-8&#160;</td>
			<td>SDIX</td>
			<td>29470002</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Alexa 488 conjugated antibody raised in goat</td>
			<td>Thermofisher Scientific</td>
			<td>A-21236</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Cytoskeletal dye phalloidin&#160;</td>
			<td>Thermofisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:168px;">A-12380</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">DAPI&#160;</td>
			<td>Thermofisher Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td>62248</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Poly-L-lysine&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>P5899</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Tetramisol&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>P5899</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">MgSO4</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:168px;">M7506</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">1M HEPES buffer, pH 7.4&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:168px;">G0887</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">10X PBS pH 7.4&#160;</td>
			<td>Thermofisher Scientific</td>
			<td>AM9625</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Tween-20&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>P1389</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">EGTA</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>E3889</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">37% Paraformaldehyde solution</td>
			<td>Merck Millipore</td>
			<td>1040031000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Normal goat serum</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>G9023</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Fluoroshield fixing reagent&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>F6182</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Ethanol&#160;</td>
			<td>Millipore&#160;</td>
			<td>1009832511</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Methanol</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>34860</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">20&#176;C &#38; 25&#176;CIncubator&#160;</td>
			<td>Any brand</td>
			<td style="width:168px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Light microscope</td>
			<td style="width:264px;">Any brand</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Confocal microscope&#160;&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:264px;">Any brand (Leica, Zeiss)</td>
			<td style="width:168px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;">Computer equipped with Imaris suit 8.4.1 or later version, full licence to use the software and Matlab software.</td>
			<td style="width:264px;">Bitplane</td>
			<td style="width:168px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:335px;">Phospho buffered saline, pH 7.4</td>
			<td style="width:264px;">Homemade</td>
			<td style="width:168px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Teflon microscope slides&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:264px;">Tekdon&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:168px;">&#160;941-322-8288</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

computational analysis of the caenorhabditis elegans germline to study the distribution of nuclei, proteins, and the cytoskeleton

De germline Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) wordt gebruikt om verschillende biologisch belangrijke processen, met inbegrip van de cel van de stam ontwikkeling, apoptosis en chromosoom dynamiek te bestuderen. Terwijl de germline een uitstekend model is, is de analyse vaak twee dimensionale als gevolg van de tijd en de arbeid die nodig is voor de drie-dimensionale analyse. Grote uitlezingen in dergelijke studies zijn de nummer/positie van kernen en eiwit spreiding in de kiemcellen. Hier presenteren we een methode voor het uitvoeren van de geautomatiseerde analyse van de confocal microscopie en computationele benaderingen gebruiken om te bepalen van het aantal en de positie van de kernen in elke regio van de germline germline. Onze methode analyseert ook germline eiwit distributie waarmee het driedimensionale onderzoek van eiwituitdrukking in verschillende genetische achtergronden. Onze studie toont verder variaties in cytoskeletal architectuur in verschillende regio's van de germline die rekening met specifieke eisen voor ruimtelijke ontwikkeling houden kan. Tot slot, onze methode kunt geautomatiseerde tellen van de zaadcellen in de spermatheca van elke germline. Tezamen, maakt onze methode een snelle en reproduceerbare fenotypische analyse van de C. elegans germline.

Figuur 1 geeft aan dat de tijd die nodig is voor driedimensionale germline analyse. L4 hermafrodieten bij 20 ° C geïncubeerd waren ontleed om te isoleren van de germlines en gekleurd met DAPI, phalloidin en antilichamen tegen germline proteïnen. Germlines zijn beeld met behulp van de confocal microscopie. Kleuring en confocal microscopie vereist ongeveer 24 h. computationele analyse voor de volledige germline 10-15 min vereist te tellen van het aantal en d...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Computational Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline to Study the Distribution of Nuclei, Proteins, and the Cytoskeleton at JoVE.com

Computational Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline to Study the Distribution of Nuclei, Proteins, and the Cytoskeleton

Computationele analyse van de Caenorhabditis elegans Germline te bestuderen van de distributie van kernen, eiwitten en het cytoskelet

We presenteren een geautomatiseerde methode voor driedimensionale wederopbouw van de Caenorhabditis elegans germline. Onze methode bepaalt het aantal en de positie van elke kern binnen de kiemcellen en analyses germline eiwit distributie en cytoskeletal structuur.

The Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) germline is used to study several biologically important processes including stem cell development, apoptosis, and ...

The overall goal of this method is to automate the analysis of a Caenorhabditis elegans germline to study its nuclei, protein, and cytoskeletal distribution. This method can help answer the key questions in the C.Elegans field about the number of nuclei and sperm, nuclear distribution, and cytoskeletal structure of the germline. The main advantages of this technique are it reduces the analysis time, increases the sample size, and eliminate the human error associated with the manual analysis.To image the samples, place slides with stained germlines into the slide holder above the 63X objective of a confocal microscope, and locate a germline. Focus on the top of the germline, and mark it with the confocal microscope software. When the total germline thickness has been established, define the thickness of each slice up to 0.5 micrometers, and mark the complete germline.Then, start the acquisition, scanning each slice eight times and averaging the values to improve the image quality. When all of the images have been obtained, import the images to an appropriate image analysis software program, and use the surface function tool to select the mitotic region. An image of the distal end of the germline will appear.Cancel the automatic surface creation wizard, and manually draw a region of interest around the mitotic region at the first and last slices of the image from the three-dimensional stack. Click Create Surface, followed by Mask Channel, to mask all of the channels except the DAPI channel. Using the spot function tool, define the size parameters of the mitotic region with an XY diameter of two micrometers and with the Z diameter undefined.Click subtract background to subtract the background. To define the minimum threshold, increase the minimum 3D rendering threshold on a DAPI-stained wild-type germline until the first spot appears outside of the germline, and generate a 3D model for each region. After saving the images, click table to view the number of nuclei, as generated automatically by the software, and export the images as TIFF files.For the transition zone, create surface as explained before. Then, click Mask Channel to mask all the channels except the DAPI channel. Using spot function, define an XY diameter of two micrometers and Z diameter of 1.5 micrometers, and click subtract background to subtract the background.To define the minimum threshold, increase the minimum 3D rendering threshold on a DAPI-stained wild-type germline until the first spot appears outside of the germline, and generate a 3D model for each region. After saving the images, click table to view the number of nuclei, as generated automatically by the software, and export the images as TIFF files. For scoring the sperm number, select the spermatheca as the region of interest, as demonstrated for the nuclei regions, and use the spot function tool to define the XY diameter between 0.75 and one micrometers with an undefined Z diameter to detect each sperm.Select the Background Subtract box, and use the background correction values calculated by the software to subtract the background. Then, adjust the 3D rendering threshold to detect all of the DAPI-stained sperm in the spermatheca. For chromosome counting in the oocytes, select the oocytes and define the XY diameter as less than 0.75 micrometers, and define the threshold before developing the 3D models.Then, save the images for export as TIFF files. For cytoskeletal germline reconstruction, identify the mitotic region of interest in the germline and create a surface mask as previously demonstrated. Click Mask Channels to mask all of the channels except the phalloidin channel, and use the surface function tool to define a surface detail of 0.25 micrometers.After subtracting the background, adjust the 3D rendering threshold to save the developed 3D image for export as a TIFF file. The nuclei distribution is dependent on the stage of differentiation. For example, at the mitotic region, the inner actin appears as a solid mass upon which the nuclei are organized.In a wild-type germline, the mitotic region contains approximately 250 nuclei and is tightly packed with nuclei compared to the rest of the germline. As the nuclei move away from the distal end, however, they appear closer to the circumference of the germline, with the change in distribution starting at the transition zone and finishing as the nuclei enter the third stage of prophase in meiosis. At the transition zone, the germline inner actin assumes a more cylindrical structure, becoming a hollow cylinder as it reaches the pachytene.The second layer of actin covers the inner layer, giving shape to the germline. This cylinder within a cylinder actin structure disappears toward the oocyte region, at which point the actin appears as thick fibers covering the oocytes. In the spermatheca, the actin also forms into thick bundles of fiber, although these fibers appear to be packed more closely together than in the oocyte region.Three-dimensional rendering of the proximal end of the germline, as demonstrated, reveals an average of 151 sperm in each spermatheca. Once mastered, this analysis can be completed in 10 minutes per germline. While attempting this procedure, it is important to remember to define the analysis parameters according to the magnification of the objective used to visualize the germline in your experiment.After watching this video, you should have a good understanding of how to perform an automatic analysis of a germline and to study cytoskeletal structure and to score the number of the nuclei within the germline.

Research

JoVE Journal

Developmental Biology

Computational Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline to Study the Distribution of Nuclei, Proteins, and the Cytoskeleton

Comprehensive Assessment of Germline Chemical Toxicity Using the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Comprehensive Assessment of Germline Chemical Toxicity Using the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Uitgebreide beoordeling van Kiembaan chemische toxiciteit De nematode<em&gt; Caenorhabditis elegans</em

Identifying the reproductive toxicity of the thousands of chemicals present in our environment has been one of the most tantalizing challenges in the ...

Using Confocal Analysis of Xenopus laevis to Investigate Modulators of Wnt and Shh Morphogen Gradients

Using Confocal Analysis of Xenopus laevis to Investigate Modulators of Wnt and Shh Morphogen Gradients

Met behulp van confocale Analyse<em&gt; Xenopus laevis</em&gt; Om Modulators van Wnt en Shh Morfogen Verlopen Onderzoek

This protocol describes a method to visualise ligands distributed across a field of cells. The ease of expressing exogenous proteins, together with the ...

Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Active ERK in the C. elegans Germline

Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Active ERK in the C. elegans Germline

Ruimtelijke en temporele analyse van Active ERK in de<em&gt; C. elegans</em&gt; Kiembaan

The evolutionarily conserved&#160;extracellular signal transducing RTK-RAS-ERK pathway is an important kinase-signaling cascade that controls multiple ...

Isolation and Characterization of Primary Rat Valve Interstitial Cells: A New Model to Study Aortic Valve Calcification

Isolatie en karakterisatie van primaire Rat klep interstitiële cellen: een nieuw Model voor het bestuderen van verkalking van de aortaklep

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is characterized by the progressive thickening of the aortic valve leaflets. It is a condition frequently found in ...

Immobilization of Caenorhabditis elegans to Analyze Intracellular Transport in Neurons

Immobilization of Caenorhabditis elegans to Analyze Intracellular Transport in Neurons

Immobilisatie van Caenorhabditis elegans te analyseren intracellulair Transport in neuronen

Axonal transport and intraflagellar transport (IFT) are essential for axon and cilia morphogenesis and function. Kinesin superfamily proteins and dynein ...

Application of RNAi and Heat-shock-induced Transcription Factor Expression to Reprogram Germ Cells to Neurons in C. elegans

Application of RNAi and Heat-shock-induced Transcription Factor Expression to Reprogram Germ Cells to Neurons in C. elegans

Toepassing van RNAi en warmte-schok-geïnduceerde transcriptie Factor expressie te herprogrammeren kiemcellen aan neuronen in C. elegans

Studying the cell biological processes during converting the identities of specific cell types provides important insights into mechanism that maintain ...

Assessing Lysosomal Alkalinization in the Intestine of Live Caenorhabditis elegans

Assessing Lysosomal Alkalinization in the Intestine of Live Caenorhabditis elegans

Beoordeling van lysosomale gealkaliseerd in de darm van levende Caenorhabditis elegans

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is a model system that is widely used to study longevity and developmental pathways. Such studies are ...

Cell Cycle Analysis in the C. elegans Germline with the Thymidine Analog EdU

Cell Cycle Analysis in the C. elegans Germline with the Thymidine Analog EdU

Cell Cycle analyse in de C. elegans Germline met de Thymidine analoge EdU

Cell cycle analysis in eukaryotes frequently utilizes chromosome morphology, expression and/or localization of gene products required for various phases ...

Studying Oxidative Stress Caused by the Mitis Group Streptococci in Caenorhabditis elegans

Studying Oxidative Stress Caused by the Mitis Group Streptococci in Caenorhabditis elegans

Studeren oxidatieve Stress veroorzaakt door de streptokokken groep Mitis in Caenorhabditis elegans

Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), a free-living nematode, has emerged as an attractive model to study host-pathogen interactions. The presented ...

Isotropic Light-Sheet Microscopy and Automated Cell Lineage Analyses to Catalogue Caenorhabditis elegans Embryogenesis with Subcellular Resolution

Isotrope licht-vel microscopie en geautomatiseerde Cell Lineage analyses catalogus Caenorhabditis embryogenese met subcellulaire resolutie

Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) stands out as the only organism in which the challenge of understanding the cellular origins of an entire nervous ...