The authors thank Ann Lavanway for imaging support. The authors thank the Wieschaus lab and the De Renzis lab for sharing reagents and the Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center for fly stocks. This study is supported by NIGMS ESI-MIRA R35GM128745 and American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant #IRG-82-003-33 to BH.

Optogenetic Inhibition of Rho1-Mediated Actomyosin Contractility in Drosophila

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

This protocol described the combined use of optogenetics and laser ablation to probe changes in tissue tension immediately after the inactivation of actomyosin contractility. The optogenetic tool described here takes advantage of the dominant negative form of Rho1 (Rho1DN) to acutely inhibit endogenous Rho1 and Rho1-dependent actomyosin contractility. Previous characterization of Opto-Rho1DN in the context of Drosophila ventral furrow formation demonstrated that the tool is highly effective in mediating the rapi...

Actomyosin contractility, the contractile force exerted by non-muscle myosin II (hereafter &#39;myosin&#39;) on the F-actin network, is one of the most important forces in changing cell shape and driving tissue-level morphogenesis1,2. For example, the activation of actomyosin contractility at the apical domain of the epithelial cells results in apical constriction, which facilitates a variety of morphogenetic processes, including epithelial folding, cell extrusion, delamination, and wound healing3,4,5,6,7. The activation of myosin requires phosphorylation of its regulatory light chain. This modification alleviates the inhibitory conformation of the myosin molecules, allowing them to form bipolar myosin filament bundles with multiple head domains on both ends. The bipolar myosin filaments drive the anti-parallel movement of actin filaments and result in the generation of contractile force1,8,9.
The evolutionarily conserved Rho family&#160;small GTPase RhoA (Rho1 in Drosophila)&#160;plays a central role in the activation of actomyosin contractility in various cellular contexts10,11. Rho1 functions as a bimolecular switch by binding either GTP (active form) or GDP (inactive form)12. The cycling between GTP- or GDP-bound Rho1 is regulated by its GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) and guanine nucleotide-exchange factors (GEFs)13. GEFs function to facilitate the exchange of GDP for GTP and thus activate Rho1 activity. GAPs, on the other hand, enhance the GTPase activity of Rho1 and thus deactivate Rho1. Activated Rho1 promotes actomyosin contractility through interacting with and activating its downstream effectors, Rho-associated kinase (Rok) and Diaphanous14. Rok induces myosin activation and actomyosin contractility by phosphorylating the regulatory light chain of myosin15. In addition, Rok also inhibits the myosin regulatory light chain phosphatase, and hence further promotes myosin filament assembly16. Rok can also phosphorylate LIM kinases, which, when activated, prevent actin disassembly by phosphorylating and inhibiting the actin-depolymerization factor cofilin17,18. Diaphanous is a formin family actin nucleator that promotes actin polymerization, providing a base for myosin to interact with19,20,21.
While the cellular mechanisms that activate actomyosin contractility have been well elucidated, our understanding of its function in regulating dynamic tissue remodeling remains incomplete. Filling this knowledge gap requires approaches that can rapidly inactivate actomyosin at specific tissue regions in vivo and record the immediate impact on tissue behavior and properties. This protocol describes the use of an optogenetic approach to acutely inhibit actomyosin contractility during Drosophila mesoderm invagination, followed by measurement of epithelial tension using laser ablation. During Drosophila gastrulation, the ventrally localized mesoderm precursor cells undergo apical constriction and invaginate from the surface of the embryo by forming an anterior-posteriorly oriented furrow22,23. The formation of ventral furrows has long been used as a model for studying the mechanism of epithelial folding. Ventral furrow formation is administered by the dorsal-ventral patterning system in Drosophila24,25,26,27. The expression of two transcription factors, Twist and Snail, located at the ventral side of the embryo, controls ventral furrow formation and specifies mesodermal cell fate28. Twist and Snail activate the recruitment of the Rho1 GEF RhoGEF2 to the apex of the mesoderm precursor cells via a G-protein coupled receptor pathway and a RhoGEF2 adaptor protein, T4829,30,31,32,33. Next, RhoGEF2 activates myosin throughout the apical surface of the potential mesoderm through the Rho-Rho kinase pathway34,35,36,37,38,39. Activated myosin forms a supracellular actomyosin network throughout the apical surface of the mesoderm primordium, the contractions of which drive apical constriction and result in a rapid increase in apical tissue tension14,37,40.
The optogenetic tool described in this protocol, Opto-Rho1DN, inhibits actomyosin contractility through blue-light dependent plasma membrane recruitment of a dominant negative form of Rho1 (Rho1DN)41. A T19N mutation in Rho1DN eliminates the ability of the mutant protein to exchange GDP for GTP and thus renders the protein perpetually inactive34. A subsequent mutation in Rho1DN, C189Y, eliminates its naive membrane targeting signal42,43. When Rho1DN is infused to the plasma membrane, it binds to and impounds Rho1 GEFs, thereby blocking the activation of Rho1 as well as Rho1-mediated activation of myosin and actin34,44. The plasma membrane recruitment of Rho1DN is achieved through a light-dependent dimerization module derived from Cryptochrome 2 and its binding partner CIB1. Cryptochrome 2 is a blue-light activated Cryptochrome photoreceptor in Arabidopsis thaliana45. Cryptochrome 2 binds to CIB1, a basic helix-loop-helix protein, only in its photoexcited state45. It was later found that the conserved N-terminal, photolyase homology region (PHR), from Cryptochrome 2 (CRY2PHR, hereafter referred to as CRY2) and the N-terminal domain (aa 1-170) of CIB1 (hereafter CIBN) are important for light-induced dimerization46. Opto-Rho1DN contains two components. The first component is the CIBN protein fused with a CAAX anchor, which localizes the protein to the plasma membrane47. The second component is mCherry-tagged CRY2 fused with Rho1DN41. In the absence of blue light, CRY2-Rho1DN remains in the cytoplasm. Upon blue light stimulation, CRY2-Rho1DN is targeted to the plasma membrane through the interaction between membrane-anchored CIBN and excited CRY2. Opto-Rho1DN can be activated by ultraviolet A (UVA) light and blue light (400-500 nm, peak activation at 450-488 nm), or by an 830-980 nm pulsed laser when performing two-photon stimulation41,46,47,48. Therefore, Opto-Rho1DN is stimulated by wavelengths normally used for exciting GFP (488 nm for single photon imaging and 920 nm for two-photon imaging). In contrast, wavelengths commonly used for exciting mCherry (561 nm for single photon imaging and 1,040 nm for two-photon imaging) do not stimulate the optogenetic module and therefore can be used for pre-stimulation imaging. The protocol describes the approaches used to minimize the risk of unwanted stimulation during sample manipulation.
Laser ablation has been extensively employed to detect and measure tension in cells and tissues49. Previous studies have shown that, when laser intensity is appropriately controlled, two-photon laser ablation employing a femtosecond near-infrared laser can physically impair some subcellular structures (e.g., cortical actomyosin networks) without causing plasma membrane rapture50,51. If the tissue is under tension, laser ablation of a region of interest within the tissue results in an immediate outward recoil of the cells adjacent to the ablated region. The recoil velocity is a function of the magnitude of the tension and the viscosity of the media (cytoplasm) surrounding the structures undergoing recoil49. Because of the superior penetration depth of the near-infrared lasers and the ability to achieve well-confined focal ablation, two-photon laser ablation is particularly useful for detecting tissue tension in vivo. As demonstrated in this protocol, this method can be easily combined with Opto-Rho1DN-mediated inactivation of actomyosin contractility to investigate the direct impact of Rho1-dependent cellular contractility on tissue mechanics during dynamic tissue remodeling.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>35 mm glass-bottom dish</td>
			<td>MatTek</td>
			<td>P35G-1.5-10-C</td>
			<td>Used for sample preparation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>60 mm &#215; 15 mm Petri dish with lid</td>
			<td>Falcon</td>
			<td>351007</td>
			<td>Used for sample preparation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Black cloth for covering the microscope</td>
			<td>Online</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>Used to avoid unwanted light stimulation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Clorox Ultra Germicadal Bleach (8.25% sodium hypochlorite)</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>10028-048</td>
			<td>Used for embryo dechorination</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CO2 pad</td>
			<td>Genesee Scientific</td>
			<td>59-114</td>
			<td>Used for cross set-up</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ddH2O</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>Used for sample preparation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dumont Style 5 tweezers</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>102091-654</td>
			<td>Used for sample preparation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Eyelash tool (made from pure red sable round brush #2)</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>22940-834</td>
			<td>Used for sample preparation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FluoView (Software)</td>
			<td>Olympus</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>Used for image acquisition and optogenetic stimulation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Halocarbon oil 27</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>H8773-100ML</td>
			<td>Used for embryo stage visualization</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ImageJ/FIJI</td>
			<td>NIH</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>Used for image analysis</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MATLAB</td>
			<td>MathWorks</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>Used for image analysis</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nikon SMZ-745 stereoscope</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>Used for sample preparation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Olympus FVMPE-RS multiphoton microscope with InSight DS Dual-line Ultrafast Lasers for simultaneous dual-wavelength multiphoton imaging, , a 25x/NA1.05 water immersion objective (XLPLN25XWMP2), and an IR/VIS stimulation unit for photo-activation/stimulation. This system is also equipped with a TRITC filter (39005-BX3; AT-TRICT-REDSHFT 540/25x, 565BS, 620/60M), and a fluorescence illumination unit that emits white light.</td>
			<td>Olympus</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>Used for image acquisition and optogenetic stimulation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SP Bel-Art 100-place polypropylene freezer storage box (Black, light-proof box for sample transfer)</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>30621-392</td>
			<td>Used to avoid unwanted light stimulation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>UV Filter Shield for FM1403 Fluores (Orange-red plastic shield)</td>
			<td>Bolioptics</td>
			<td>FM14036151</td>
			<td>Used to avoid unwanted light stimulation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>VITCHELO V800 Headlamp with White and Red LED Lights</td>
			<td>Amazon</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>Used to avoid unwanted light stimulation</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

optogenetic inhibition of rho1-mediated actomyosin contractility coupled with measurement of epithelial tension in drosophila embryos

Contractile forces generated by actin and non-muscle myosin II ("actomyosin contractility") are critical for morphological changes of cells and tissues at multiple length scales, such as cell division, cell migration, epithelial folding, and branching morphogenesis. An in-depth understanding of the role of actomyosin contractility in morphogenesis requires approaches that allow the rapid inactivation of actomyosin, which is difficult to achieve using conventional genetic or pharmacological approaches. The presented protocol demonstrates the use of a CRY2-CIBN based optogenetic dimerization system, Opto-Rho1DN, to inhibit actomyosin contractility in Drosophila embryos with precise temporal and spatial controls. In this system, CRY2 is fused to the dominant negative form of Rho1 (Rho1DN), whereas CIBN is anchored to the plasma membrane. Blue light-mediated dimerization of CRY2 and CIBN results in rapid translocation of Rho1DN from the cytoplasm to the plasma membrane, where it inactivates actomyosin by inhibiting endogenous Rho1. In addition, this article presents a detailed protocol for coupling Opto-Rho1DN-mediated inactivation of actomyosin with laser ablation to investigate the role of actomyosin in generating epithelial tension during Drosophila ventral furrow formation. This protocol can be applied to many other morphological processes that involve actomyosin contractility in Drosophila embryos with minimal modifications. Overall, this optogenetic tool is a powerful approach to dissect the function of actomyosin contractility in controlling tissue mechanics during dynamic tissue remodeling.

In the unstimulated embryos undergoing apical constriction, Sqh-mCherry became enriched at the medioapical region of the ventral mesodermal cells, whereas CRY2-Rho1DN-mCherry was cytosolic (Figure 1A). Laser ablation within the constriction domain led to a rapid tissue recoil along the A-P axis (Figure 1B,C). In the stimulated embryos, the CRY2-Rho1DN-mCherry signal became plasma membrane localized, whereas the medioapical signal of Sqh-mCherry ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Optogenetic Inhibition of Rho1-Mediated Actomyosin Contractility Coupled with Measurement of Epithelial Tension in Drosophila Embryos at JoVE.com

Author Spotlight: Optogenetic Inhibition of Rho1-Mediated Actomyosin Contractility Coupled with Measurement of Epithelial Tension in Drosophila Embryos  

Actomyosin contractility plays an important role in cell and tissue morphogenesis. However, it is challenging to manipulate actomyosin contractility in vivo acutely. This protocol describes an optogenetic system that rapidly inhibits Rho1-mediated actomyosin contractility in Drosophila embryos, revealing the immediate loss of epithelial tension after the inactivation of actomyosin in vivo.

Optogenetic Inhibition of Rho1-Mediated Actomyosin Contractility Coupled with Measurement of Epithelial Tension in Drosophila Embryos

Contractile forces generated by actin and non-muscle myosin II ("actomyosin contractility") are critical for morphological changes of cells and tissues at ...

optogenetic-inhibition-rho1-mediated-actomyosin-contractility-coupled

Research

JoVE Journal

Developmental Biology

1.2K Views.  Dartmouth College. Actomyosin contractility plays an important role in cell and tissue morphogenesis. However, it is challenging to manipulate actomyosin contractility in vivo acutely. This protocol describes an optogenetic system that rapidly inhibits Rho1-mediated actomyosin contractility in Drosophila embryos, revealing the immediate loss of epithelial tension after the inactivation of actomyosin in vivo.

Video: Author Spotlight: Optogenetic Inhibition of Rho1-Mediated Actomyosin Contractility Coupled with Measurement of Epithelial Tension in Drosophila Embryos  

An Optogenetic Approach for Assessing Formation of Neuronal Connections in a Co-culture System

Here we describe a protocol to generate a co-culture consisting of 2 different neuronal populations. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are reprogrammed from human fibroblasts using episomal vectors. Colonies of iPSCs can be observed 30 days after initiation of fibroblast reprogramming. Pluripotent colonies are manually picked and grown in neural induction medium to permit differentiation into neural progenitor cells (NPCs). iPSCs rapidly convert into neuroepithelial cells within 1 week and retain the capability to self-renew when maintained at a high culture density. Primary mouse NPCs are differentiated into astrocytes by exposure to a serum-containing medium for 7 days and form a monolayer upon which embryonic day 18 (E18) rat cortical neurons (transfected with channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2)) are added. Human NPCs tagged with the fluorescent protein, tandem dimer Tomato (tdTomato), are then seeded onto the astrocyte/cortical neuron culture the following day and allowed to differentiate for 28 to 35 days. We demonstrate that this system forms synaptic connections between iPSC-derived neurons and cortical neurons, evident from an increase in the frequency of synaptic currents upon photostimulation of the cortical neurons. This co-culture system provides a novel platform for evaluating the ability of iPSC-derived neurons to create synaptic connections with other neuronal populations.

A protocol to generate a co-culture system consisting of neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), primary cortical neurons and astrocytes is described. This co-culture system allows detection of the formation of synaptic contacts and circuits between new, iPSC-derived neurons and pre-existing cortical neurons expressing channelrhodopsin-2.

Here we describe a protocol to generate a co-culture consisting of 2 different neuronal populations. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are ...

A Time Differential Staining Technique Coupled with Full Bilateral Gill Denervation to Study Ionocytes in Fish

Branchial ionocytes (ICs) are the functional units for ionic regulation in fish. In adults, they are found on the filamental and lamellar epithelia of the gill where they transport ions such as Na+, Cl- and Ca2+ via a variety of ion channels, pumps and exchangers. The teleost gill is extrinsically innervated by the facial (VI), glossopharyngeal (IX) and vagus (X) nerves. The IX and X nerves are also the extrinsic source of branchial IC innervation. Here, two techniques used to study the innervation, proliferation and distribution of ICs are described: a time differential staining technique and a full bilateral gill denervation technique. Briefly, goldfish are exposed to a vital mitochondrion-specific dye (e.g., MitoTracker Red) which labels (red fluorescence) pre-existing ICs. Fish were either allowed to recover for 3 - 5 days or immediately underwent a full bilateral gill denervation. After 3 - 5 days of recovery, the gills are harvested and fixed for immunohistochemistry. The tissue is then stained with an &#945;-5 primary antibody (targets Na+/K+ ATPase containing cells) in conjunction with a secondary antibody that labels all (both new and pre-existing) ICs green. Using confocal imaging, it was demonstrated that pre-existing ICs appear yellow (labelled with both a viable mitochondrion-specific dye and &#945;-5) and new ICs appear green (labelled with &#945;-5 only). Both techniques used in tandem can be applied to study the innervation, proliferation and distribution of ICs on the gill filament when fish are exposed to environmental challenges.

This manuscript describes a protocol to track the re-distribution of branchial ionocytes and their innervation using a time differential staining technique coupled with full bilateral gill denervation.

Branchial ionocytes (ICs) are the functional units for ionic regulation in fish. In adults, they are found on the filamental and lamellar epithelia of the ...

Primary Endodermal Epithelial Cell Culture from the Yolk Sac Membrane of Japanese Quail Embryos

We established an endodermal epithelial cell culture model (EEC) for studying the function of certain enzymes and proteins in mediating nutrient utilization by avian embryos during development. Fertilized Japanese quail eggs were incubated at 37 &#176;C for 5 days and then yolk sac membranes (YSM) were collected to establish the EEC culture system. We isolated the embryonic endoderm layer from YSM, and sliced the membrane into 2 - 3 mm pieces and partially digested with collagenase before seeding in 24-well culture plates. The EECs proliferate out of the tissue and are ready for cell culture studies. We found that the EECs had typical characteristics of YSM in vivo, for example, accumulation of lipid droplets, expression of sterol O-acyltransferase and lipoprotein lipase. The partial digestion treatment significantly increased the successful rate of EEC culture. Utilizing the EECs, we demonstrated that the expression of SOAT1 was regulated by the cAMP dependent protein kinase A related pathway. This primary Japanese quail EEC culture system is a useful tool to study embryonic lipid transportation and to clarify the role of genes involved in mediating nutrient utilization in YSM during avian embryonic development.

To study the mechanism of lipid utilization in yolk sac membranes during the late stages of avian embryonic development, we established a primary Japanese quail embryonic endodermal epithelial cell culture system.

We established an endodermal epithelial cell culture model (EEC) for studying the function of certain enzymes and proteins in mediating nutrient ...

Multi-target Chromogenic Whole-mount In Situ Hybridization for Comparing Gene Expression Domains in Drosophila Embryos

To analyze gene regulatory networks active during embryonic development and organogenesis it is essential to precisely define how the different genes are expressed in spatial relation to each other in situ. Multi-target chromogenic whole-mount in situ hybridization (MC-WISH) greatly facilitates the instant comparison of gene expression patterns, as it allows distinctive visualization of different mRNA species in contrasting colors in the same sample specimen. This provides the possibility to relate gene expression domains topographically to each other with high accuracy and to define unique and overlapping expression sites. In the presented protocol, we describe a MC-WISH procedure for comparing mRNA expression patterns of different genes in Drosophila embryos. Up to three RNA probes, each specific for another gene and labeled by a different hapten, are simultaneously hybridized to the embryo samples and subsequently detected by alkaline phosphatase-based colorimetric immunohistochemistry. The described procedure is detailed here for Drosophila, but works equally well with zebrafish embryos.

Multi-target Chromogenic Whole-mount In Situ Hybridization for Comparing Gene Expression Domains in Drosophila Embryos

We describe a multi-target chromogenic whole-mount in situ hybridization (MC-WISH) procedure in intact Drosophila embryos allowing simultaneous and specific detection of three different mRNA distribution patterns by contrasting color precipitates.

To analyze gene regulatory networks active during embryonic development and organogenesis it is essential to precisely define how the different genes are ...

Ploidy Manipulation of Zebrafish Embryos with Heat Shock 2 Treatment

Manipulation of ploidy allows for useful transformations, such as diploids to tetraploids, or haploids to diploids. In the zebrafish Danio rerio, specifically the generation of homozygous gynogenetic diploids is useful in genetic analysis because it allows the direct production of homozygotes from a single heterozygous mother. This article describes a modified protocol for ploidy duplication based on a heat pulse during the first cell cycle, Heat Shock 2 (HS2). Through inhibition of centriole duplication, this method results in a precise cell division stall during the second cell cycle. The precise one-cycle division stall, coupled to unaffected DNA duplication, results in whole genome duplication. Protocols associated with this method include egg and sperm collection, UV treatment of sperm, in vitro fertilization and heat pulse to cause a one-cell cycle division delay and ploidy duplication. A modified version of this protocol could be applied to induce ploidy changes in other animal species.

A modified protocol for ploidy manipulation uses a heat shock to induce a one-cycle stall in cytokinesis in the early embryo. This protocol is demonstrated in the zebrafish but may be applicable to other species.

Manipulation of ploidy allows for useful transformations, such as diploids to tetraploids, or haploids to diploids. In the zebrafish Danio rerio, ...

Cell Aggregation Assays to Evaluate the Binding of the Drosophila Notch with Trans-Ligands and its Inhibition by Cis-Ligands

Notch signaling is an evolutionarily conserved cell-cell communication system used broadly in animal development and adult maintenance. Interaction of the Notch receptor with ligands from neighboring cells induces activation of the signaling pathway (trans-activation), while interaction with ligands from the same cell inhibits signaling (cis-inhibition). Proper balance between trans-activation and cis-inhibition helps establish optimal levels of Notch signaling in some contexts during animal development. Because of the overlapping expression domains of Notch and its ligands in many cell types and the existence of feedback mechanisms, studying the effects of a given post-translational modification on trans- versus cis-interactions of Notch and its ligands in vivo is difficult. Here, we describe a protocol for using Drosophila S2 cells in cell-aggregation assays to assess the effects of knocking down a Notch pathway modifier on the binding of Notch to each ligand in trans and in cis. S2 cells stably or transiently transfected with a Notch-expressing vector are mixed with cells expressing each Notch ligand (S2-Delta or S2-Serrate). Trans-binding between the receptor and ligands results in the formation of heterotypic cell aggregates and is measured in terms of the number of aggregates per mL composed of &#62;6 cells. To examine the inhibitory effect of cis-ligands, S2 cells co-expressing Notch and each ligand are mixed with S2-Delta or S2-Serrate cells and the number of aggregates is quantified as described above. The relative decrease in the number of aggregates due to the presence of cis-ligands provides a measure of cis-ligand-mediated inhibition of trans-binding. These straightforward assays can provide semi-quantitative data on the effects of genetic or pharmacological manipulations on the binding of Notch to its ligands, and can help deciphering the molecular mechanisms underlying the in vivo effects of such manipulations on Notch signaling.

Cell Aggregation Assays to Evaluate the Binding of the Drosophila Notch with Trans-Ligands and its Inhibition by Cis-Ligands

Complexity of in vivo systems makes it difficult to distinguish between the activation and inhibition of Notch receptor by trans- and cis-ligands, respectively. Here, we present a protocol based on in vitro cell-aggregation assays for qualitative and semi-quantitative evaluation of the binding of Drosophila Notch to trans-ligands vs cis-ligands.

Notch signaling is an evolutionarily conserved cell-cell communication system used broadly in animal development and adult maintenance. Interaction of the ...

Real-time Measurement of Epithelial Barrier Permeability in Human Intestinal Organoids

Advances in 3D culture of intestinal tissues obtained through biopsy or generated from pluripotent stem cells via directed differentiation, have resulted in sophisticated in vitro models of the intestinal mucosa. Leveraging these emerging model systems will require adaptation of tools and techniques developed for 2D culture systems and animals. Here, we describe a technique for measuring epithelial barrier permeability in human intestinal organoids in real-time. This is accomplished by microinjection of fluorescently-labeled dextran and imaging on an inverted microscope fitted with epifluorescent filters. Real-time measurement of the barrier permeability in intestinal organoids facilitates the generation of high-resolution temporal data in human intestinal epithelial tissue, although this technique can also be applied to fixed timepoint imaging approaches. This protocol is readily adaptable for the measurement of epithelial barrier permeability following exposure to pharmacologic agents, bacterial products or toxins, or live microorganisms. With minor modifications, this protocol can also serve as a general primer on microinjection of intestinal organoids and users may choose to supplement this protocol with additional or alternative downstream applications following microinjection.

This protocol describes the measurement of epithelial barrier permeability in real-time following pharmacologic treatment in human intestinal organoids using fluorescent microscopy and live cell microscopy.

Advances in 3D culture of intestinal tissues obtained through biopsy or generated from pluripotent stem cells via directed differentiation, have resulted ...

A Cell-based Assay to Investigate Non-muscle Myosin II Contractility via the Folded-gastrulation Signaling Pathway in Drosophila S2R+ Cells

We have developed a cell-based assay using Drosophila cells that recapitulates apical constriction initiated by folded gastrulation (Fog), a secreted epithelial morphogen. In this assay, Fog is used as an agonist to activate Rho through a signaling cascade that includes a G-protein-coupled receptor (Mist), a G&#945;12/13 protein (Concertina/Cta), and a PDZ-domain-containing guanine nucleotide exchange factor (RhoGEF2). Fog signaling results in the rapid and dramatic reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton to form a contractile purse string. Soluble Fog is collected from a stable cell line and applied ectopically to S2R+ cells, leading to morphological changes like apical constriction, a process observed during developmental processes such as gastrulation. This assay is amenable to high-throughput screening and, using RNAi, can facilitate the identification of additional genes involved in this pathway.

A Cell-based Assay to Investigate Non-muscle Myosin II Contractility via the Folded-gastrulation Signaling Pathway in Drosophila S2R+ Cells

Here we describe a contractility assay using Drosophila S2R+ cells. The application of an exogenous ligand, folded gastrulation (Fog), leads to the activation of the Fog signaling pathway and cellular contractility. This assay can be used to investigate the regulation of cellular contractility proteins in the Fog signaling pathway.

We have developed a cell-based assay using Drosophila cells that recapitulates apical constriction initiated by folded gastrulation (Fog), a secreted ...

Analysis of Actomyosin Dynamics at Local Cellular and Tissue Scales Using Time-lapse Movies of Cultured Drosophila Egg Chambers

Drosophila immature eggs are called egg chambers, and their structure resembles primitive organs that undergo morphological changes from a round to an ellipsoid shape during development. This developmental process is called oogenesis and is crucial to generating functional mature eggs to secure the next fly generation. For these reasons, egg chambers have served as an ideal and relevant model to understand animal organ development.
Several in vitro culturing protocols have been developed, but there are several disadvantages to these protocols. One involves the application of various covers that exert an artificial pressure on the imaged egg chambers in order to immobilize them and to increase the imaged acquisition plane of the circumferential surface of the analyzed egg chambers. Such an approach may negatively influence the behavior of the thin actomyosin machinery that generates the power to rotate egg chambers around their longer axis.
Thus, to overcome this limitation, we culture Drosophila egg chambers freely in the media in order to reliably analyze actomyosin machinery along the circumference of egg chambers. In the first part of the protocol, we provide a manual detailing how to analyze the actomyosin machinery in a limited acquisition plane at the local cellular scale (up to 15 cells). In the second part of the protocol, we provide users with a new Fiji-based plugin that allows the simple extraction of a defined thin layer of the egg chambers&#8217; circumferential surface. The following protocol then describes how to analyze actomyosin signals at the tissue scale (&#62;50 cells). Finally, we pinpoint the limitations of these approaches at both the local cellular and tissue scales and discuss its potential future development and possible applications.

Analysis of Actomyosin Dynamics at Local Cellular and Tissue Scales Using Time-lapse Movies of Cultured Drosophila Egg Chambers

This protocol provides a Fiji-based, user-friendly methodology along with straightforward instructions explaining how to reliably analyze actomyosin behavior in individual cells and curved epithelial tissues. No programming skills are required to follow the tutorial; all steps are performed in a semi-interactive manner using the graphical user interface of Fiji and associated plugins.

Drosophila immature eggs are called egg chambers, and their structure resembles primitive organs that undergo morphological changes from a round to an ...

Thawing, Culturing, and Cryopreserving Drosophila Cell Lines

There are currently over 160 distinct Drosophila cell lines distributed by the Drosophila Genomics Resource Center (DGRC). With genome engineering, the number of novel cell lines is expected to increase. The DGRC aims to familiarize researchers with using Drosophila cell lines as an experimental tool to complement and drive their research agenda. Procedures for working with a variety of Drosophila cell lines with distinct characteristics are provided, including protocols for thawing, culturing, and cryopreserving cell lines. Importantly, this publication demonstrates the best practices required to work with Drosophila cell lines to minimize the risk of contaminations from adventitious microorganisms or from other cell lines. Researchers who become familiar with these procedures will be able to delve into the many applications that use Drosophila cultured cells including biochemistry, cell biology and functional genomics.

Thawing, Culturing, and Cryopreserving Drosophila Cell Lines

Drosophila cell lines are important reagents for both fundamental and biomedical research. This article provides protocols for thawing, subculturing, and the cryopreservation of commonly used Drosophila cell lines to assist researchers in incorporating the use of these reagents in their research.

There are currently over 160 distinct Drosophila cell lines distributed by the Drosophila Genomics Resource Center (DGRC). With genome engineering, the ...