OSU Scientists Develop Imaging Tool to Check Timing of Development in Cells

Scientists at Ohio State University (OSU) developed a new imaging tool to visualize single-cell activity in embryos and observe how cells position themselves at the right spot and time to receive cues for the upcoming stage of their life.

The research team led by OSU molecular geneticist, Sharon Amacher, developed the imaging tool by fusing a protein defining the cells' cyclical behavior to a yellow fluorescent protein. They used the technique in Zebrafish embryos and looked at the molecular clock that defines the timing of embryonic segmentation. The results elucidated the function of a messaging system known as Notch signaling pathway. Cells must receive the Notch signal to continue synchronization with other cells and form segments that will later on differentiate as tissues. However, the cells can turn on their genes in oscillating manner with or without the signal. "This provides the data that cells with disabled Notch signaling can oscillate just fine, but what they can't do is synchronize with their neighbors," said Amacher.

The tool also disproved the previous belief that mitosis is a random event. They found out that mitosis occurs when nearby cells are at a low point of gene activation for signal reception.

For more details about the study, read the research article published at Developmental Cell journal: http://www.cell.com/developmental-cell/abstract/S1534-5807(12)00420-0 and the media release at http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/cellclock.htm.