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Sonmez UM, Frey N, LeDuc PR, Minden JS. Fly Me to the Micron: Microtechnologies for Drosophila Research. Annu Rev Biomed Eng 2024; 26:441-473. [PMID: 38959386 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-bioeng-050423-054647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Multicellular model organisms, such as Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly), are frequently used in a myriad of biological research studies due to their biological significance and global standardization. However, traditional tools used in these studies generally require manual handling, subjective phenotyping, and bulk treatment of the organisms, resulting in laborious experimental protocols with limited accuracy. Advancements in microtechnology over the course of the last two decades have allowed researchers to develop automated, high-throughput, and multifunctional experimental tools that enable novel experimental paradigms that would not be possible otherwise. We discuss recent advances in microtechnological systems developed for small model organisms using D. melanogaster as an example. We critically analyze the state of the field by comparing the systems produced for different applications. Additionally, we suggest design guidelines, operational tips, and new research directions based on the technical and knowledge gaps in the literature. This review aims to foster interdisciplinary work by helping engineers to familiarize themselves with model organisms while presenting the most recent advances in microengineering strategies to biologists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Utku M Sonmez
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;
- Current affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Scripps Research, San Diego, California, USA
- Current affiliation: Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Nolan Frey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;
| | - Philip R LeDuc
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jonathan S Minden
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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2
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Häring M, Wolf F, Großhans J, Kong D. Morphogenesis: Unstable rods and how genetics tames them. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R873-R875. [PMID: 37607486 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Rods under mechanical stress are a classic example of dynamic instability. Axis elongation in Drosophila usually leads to a U-shaped axis, but folded or twisted axes are observed in certain mutants. Analysis of these mutants now reveals the source of the instability and the mechanism for maintaining left-right symmetry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Häring
- Göttingen Campus Institute for Dynamics of Biological Networks (CIDBN), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Fred Wolf
- Göttingen Campus Institute for Dynamics of Biological Networks (CIDBN), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Göttingen, Germany; Institute for the Dynamics of Complex Systems, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany; Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jörg Großhans
- Göttingen Campus Institute for Dynamics of Biological Networks (CIDBN), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Department of Biology, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Deqing Kong
- Göttingen Campus Institute for Dynamics of Biological Networks (CIDBN), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Department of Biology, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany.
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3
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Skory RM, Moverley AA, Ardestani G, Alvarez Y, Domingo-Muelas A, Pomp O, Hernandez B, Tetlak P, Bissiere S, Stern CD, Sakkas D, Plachta N. The nuclear lamina couples mechanical forces to cell fate in the preimplantation embryo via actin organization. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3101. [PMID: 37248263 PMCID: PMC10226985 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38770-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
During preimplantation development, contractile forces generated at the apical cortex segregate cells into inner and outer positions of the embryo, establishing the inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm. To which extent these forces influence ICM-trophectoderm fate remains unresolved. Here, we found that the nuclear lamina is coupled to the cortex via an F-actin meshwork in mouse and human embryos. Actomyosin contractility increases during development, upregulating Lamin-A levels, but upon internalization cells lose their apical cortex and downregulate Lamin-A. Low Lamin-A shifts the localization of actin nucleators from nucleus to cytoplasm increasing cytoplasmic F-actin abundance. This results in stabilization of Amot, Yap phosphorylation and acquisition of ICM over trophectoderm fate. By contrast, in outer cells, Lamin-A levels increase with contractility. This prevents Yap phosphorylation enabling Cdx2 to specify the trophectoderm. Thus, forces transmitted to the nuclear lamina control actin organization to differentially regulate the factors specifying lineage identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin M Skory
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Regenerative Medicine Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Adam A Moverley
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Regenerative Medicine Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- University College London, WC1E 6BT, London, UK
| | | | - Yanina Alvarez
- Universidad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ana Domingo-Muelas
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Regenerative Medicine Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Oz Pomp
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Regenerative Medicine Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Blake Hernandez
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Regenerative Medicine Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Piotr Tetlak
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Regenerative Medicine Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Stephanie Bissiere
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Regenerative Medicine Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | - Nicolas Plachta
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Regenerative Medicine Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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4
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Marsal M, Hernández-Vega A, Pouille PA, Martin-Blanco E. Rab5ab-Mediated Yolk Cell Membrane Endocytosis Is Essential for Zebrafish Epiboly and Mechanical Equilibrium During Gastrulation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:697097. [PMID: 34778246 PMCID: PMC8585776 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.697097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Morphogenesis in early embryos demands the coordinated distribution of cells and tissues to their final destination in a spatio-temporal controlled way. Spatial and scalar differences in adhesion and contractility are essential for these morphogenetic movements, while the role that membrane remodeling may play remains less clear. To evaluate how membrane turnover modulates tissue arrangements we studied the role of endocytosis in zebrafish epiboly. Experimental analyses and modeling have shown that the expansion of the blastoderm relies on an asymmetry of mechanical tension in the yolk cell generated as a result of actomyosin-dependent contraction and membrane removal. Here we show that the GTPase Rab5ab is essential for the endocytosis and the removal of the external yolk cell syncytial layer (E-YSL) membrane. Interfering in its expression exclusively in the yolk resulted in the reduction of yolk cell actomyosin contractility, the disruption of cortical and internal flows, a disequilibrium in force balance and epiboly impairment. We conclude that regulated membrane remodeling is crucial for directing cell and tissue mechanics, preserving embryo geometry and coordinating morphogenetic movements during epiboly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Marsal
- Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Parc Cientific de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Amayra Hernández-Vega
- Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Parc Cientific de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Philippe-Alexandre Pouille
- Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Parc Cientific de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Enrique Martin-Blanco
- Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Parc Cientific de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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5
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Inman A, Smutny M. Feeling the force: Multiscale force sensing and transduction at the cell-cell interface. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 120:53-65. [PMID: 34238674 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
A universal principle of all living cells is the ability to sense and respond to mechanical stimuli which is essential for many biological processes. Recent efforts have identified critical mechanosensitive molecules and response pathways involved in mechanotransduction during development and tissue homeostasis. Tissue-wide force transmission and local force sensing need to be spatiotemporally coordinated to precisely regulate essential processes during development such as tissue morphogenesis, patterning, cell migration and organogenesis. Understanding how cells identify and interpret extrinsic forces and integrate a specific response on cell and tissue level remains a major challenge. In this review we consider important cellular and physical factors in control of cell-cell mechanotransduction and discuss their significance for cell and developmental processes. We further highlight mechanosensitive macromolecules that are known to respond to external forces and present examples of how force responses can be integrated into cell and developmental programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angus Inman
- Centre for Mechanochemical Cell Biology and Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV47AL, UK
| | - Michael Smutny
- Centre for Mechanochemical Cell Biology and Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV47AL, UK.
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6
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Gracioso Martins AM, Wilkins MD, Ligler FS, Daniele MA, Freytes DO. Microphysiological System for High-Throughput Computer Vision Measurement of Microtissue Contraction. ACS Sens 2021; 6:985-994. [PMID: 33656335 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.0c02172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The ability to measure microtissue contraction in vitro can provide important information when modeling cardiac, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, dermal, and skeletal tissues. However, measuring tissue contraction in vitro often requires the use of high number of cells per tissue construct along with time-consuming microscopy and image analysis. Here, we present an inexpensive, versatile, high-throughput platform to measure microtissue contraction in a 96-well plate configuration using one-step batch imaging. More specifically, optical fiber microprobes are embedded in microtissues, and contraction is measured as a function of the deflection of optical signals emitted from the end of the fibers. Signals can be measured from all the filled wells on the plate simultaneously using a digital camera. An algorithm uses pixel-based image analysis and computer vision techniques for the accurate multiwell quantification of positional changes in the optical microprobes caused by the contraction of the microtissues. Microtissue constructs containing 20,000-100,000 human ventricular cardiac fibroblasts (NHCF-V) in 6 mg/mL collagen type I showed contractile displacements ranging from 20-200 μm. This highly sensitive and versatile platform can be used for the high-throughput screening of microtissues in disease modeling, drug screening for therapeutics, physiology research, and safety pharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Maria Gracioso Martins
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill/North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695, North Carolina, United States
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695, North Carolina, United States
| | - Michael D. Wilkins
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695, North Carolina, United States
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695, North Carolina, United States
| | - Frances S. Ligler
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill/North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695, North Carolina, United States
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695, North Carolina, United States
| | - Michael A. Daniele
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill/North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695, North Carolina, United States
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695, North Carolina, United States
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695, North Carolina, United States
| | - Donald O. Freytes
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill/North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695, North Carolina, United States
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695, North Carolina, United States
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7
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The Actomyosin Cortex of Cells: A Thin Film of Active Matter. J Indian Inst Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s41745-020-00220-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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8
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Bächer C, Bender M, Gekle S. Flow-accelerated platelet biogenesis is due to an elasto-hydrodynamic instability. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:18969-18976. [PMID: 32719144 PMCID: PMC7431004 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2002985117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood platelets are formed by fragmentation of long membrane extensions from bone marrow megakaryocytes in the blood flow. Using lattice-Boltzmann/immersed boundary simulations we propose a biological Rayleigh-Plateau instability as the biophysical mechanism behind this fragmentation process. This instability is akin to the surface tension-induced breakup of a liquid jet but is driven by active cortical processes including actomyosin contractility and microtubule sliding. Our fully three-dimensional simulations highlight the crucial role of actomyosin contractility, which is required to trigger the instability, and illustrate how the wavelength of the instability determines the size of the final platelets. The elasto-hydrodynamic origin of the fragmentation explains the strong acceleration of platelet biogenesis in the presence of an external flow, which we observe in agreement with experiments. Our simulations then allow us to disentangle the influence of specific flow conditions: While a homogeneous flow with uniform velocity leads to the strongest acceleration, a shear flow with a linear velocity gradient can cause fusion events of two developing platelet-sized swellings during fragmentation. A fusion event may lead to the release of larger structures which are observable as preplatelets in experiments. Together, our findings strongly indicate a mainly physical origin of fragmentation and regulation of platelet size in flow-accelerated platelet biogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Bächer
- Biofluid Simulation and Modeling, Theoretische Physik VI, University of Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany;
| | - Markus Bender
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine I, University Hospital and Rudolf Virchow Center, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Stephan Gekle
- Biofluid Simulation and Modeling, Theoretische Physik VI, University of Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany;
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9
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Bächer C, Gekle S. Computational modeling of active deformable membranes embedded in three-dimensional flows. Phys Rev E 2019; 99:062418. [PMID: 31330647 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.99.062418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Active gel theory has recently been very successful in describing biologically active materials such as actin filaments or moving bacteria in temporally fixed and simple geometries such as cubes or spheres. Here we develop a computational algorithm to compute the dynamic evolution of an arbitrarily shaped, deformable thin membrane of active material embedded in a three-dimensional flowing liquid. For this, our algorithm combines active gel theory with the classical theory of thin elastic shells. To compute the actual forces resulting from active stresses, we apply a parabolic fitting procedure to the triangulated membrane surface. Active forces are then dynamically coupled via an immersed-boundary method to the surrounding fluid whose dynamics can be solved by any standard, e.g., Lattice-Boltzmann, flow solver. We validate our algorithm using the Green's functions of Berthoumieux et al. [New J. Phys. 16, 065005 (2014)10.1088/1367-2630/16/6/065005] for an active cylindrical membrane subjected (i) to a locally increased active stress and (ii) to a homogeneous active stress. For the latter scenario, we predict in addition a nonaxisymmetric instability. We highlight the versatility of our method by analyzing the flow field inside an actively deforming cell embedded in external shear flow. Further applications may be cytoplasmic streaming or active membranes in blood flows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Bächer
- Biofluid Simulation and Modeling, Theoretische Physik VI, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Stephan Gekle
- Biofluid Simulation and Modeling, Theoretische Physik VI, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, Bayreuth, Germany
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10
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Swinburne IA, Mosaliganti KR, Upadhyayula S, Liu TL, Hildebrand DGC, Tsai TYC, Chen A, Al-Obeidi E, Fass AK, Malhotra S, Engert F, Lichtman JW, Kirchhausen T, Betzig E, Megason SG. Lamellar projections in the endolymphatic sac act as a relief valve to regulate inner ear pressure. eLife 2018; 7:e37131. [PMID: 29916365 PMCID: PMC6008045 DOI: 10.7554/elife.37131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The inner ear is a fluid-filled closed-epithelial structure whose function requires maintenance of an internal hydrostatic pressure and fluid composition. The endolymphatic sac (ES) is a dead-end epithelial tube connected to the inner ear whose function is unclear. ES defects can cause distended ear tissue, a pathology often seen in hearing and balance disorders. Using live imaging of zebrafish larvae, we reveal that the ES undergoes cycles of slow pressure-driven inflation followed by rapid deflation. Absence of these cycles in lmx1bb mutants leads to distended ear tissue. Using serial-section electron microscopy and adaptive optics lattice light-sheet microscopy, we find a pressure relief valve in the ES comprised of partially separated apical junctions and dynamic overlapping basal lamellae that separate under pressure to release fluid. We propose that this lmx1-dependent pressure relief valve is required to maintain fluid homeostasis in the inner ear and other fluid-filled cavities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian A Swinburne
- Department of Systems BiologyHarvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | | | - Srigokul Upadhyayula
- Department of PediatricsHarvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
- Program in Cellular and Molecular MedicineBoston Children’s HospitalBostonUnited States
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteAshburnUnited States
| | - Tsung-Li Liu
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteAshburnUnited States
| | - David G C Hildebrand
- Department of Molecular and Cellular BiologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Tony Y -C Tsai
- Department of Systems BiologyHarvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Anzhi Chen
- Department of Systems BiologyHarvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Ebaa Al-Obeidi
- Department of Systems BiologyHarvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Anna K Fass
- Department of Systems BiologyHarvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Samir Malhotra
- Department of Systems BiologyHarvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Florian Engert
- Department of Molecular and Cellular BiologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Jeff W Lichtman
- Department of Molecular and Cellular BiologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Tomas Kirchhausen
- Department of PediatricsHarvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
- Program in Cellular and Molecular MedicineBoston Children’s HospitalBostonUnited States
- Department of Cell BiologyHarvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Eric Betzig
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteAshburnUnited States
| | - Sean G Megason
- Department of Systems BiologyHarvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
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11
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Dynamic Tissue Rearrangements during Vertebrate Eye Morphogenesis: Insights from Fish Models. J Dev Biol 2018; 6:jdb6010004. [PMID: 29615553 PMCID: PMC5875564 DOI: 10.3390/jdb6010004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Revised: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last thirty years, fish models, such as the zebrafish and medaka, have become essential to pursue developmental studies and model human disease. Community efforts have led to the generation of wide collections of mutants, a complete sequence of their genomes, and the development of sophisticated genetic tools, enabling the manipulation of gene activity and labelling and tracking of specific groups of cells during embryonic development. When combined with the accessibility and optical clarity of fish embryos, these approaches have made of them an unbeatable model to monitor developmental processes in vivo and in real time. Over the last few years, live-imaging studies in fish have provided fascinating insights into tissue morphogenesis and organogenesis. This review will illustrate the advantages of fish models to pursue morphogenetic studies by highlighting the findings that, in the last decade, have transformed our understanding of eye morphogenesis.
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12
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Marsal M, Jorba I, Rebollo E, Luque T, Navajas D, Martín-Blanco E. AFM and Microrheology in the Zebrafish Embryo Yolk Cell. J Vis Exp 2017. [PMID: 29286426 DOI: 10.3791/56224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Elucidating the factors that direct the spatio-temporal organization of evolving tissues is one of the primary purposes in the study of development. Various propositions claim to have been important contributions to the understanding of the mechanical properties of cells and tissues in their spatiotemporal organization in different developmental and morphogenetic processes. However, due to the lack of reliable and accessible tools to measure material properties and tensional parameters in vivo, validating these hypotheses has been difficult. Here we present methods employing atomic force microscopy (AFM) and particle tracking with the aim of quantifying the mechanical properties of the intact zebrafish embryo yolk cell during epiboly. Epiboly is an early conserved developmental process whose study is facilitated by the transparency of the embryo. These methods are simple to implement, reliable, and widely applicable since they overcome intrusive interventions that could affect tissue mechanics. A simple strategy was applied for the mounting of specimens, AFM recording, and nanoparticle injections and tracking. This approach makes these methods easily adaptable to other developmental times or organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Marsal
- Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
| | - Ignasi Jorba
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Universitat de Barcelona and CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias
| | - Elena Rebollo
- Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
| | - Tomas Luque
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Universitat de Barcelona and CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias
| | - Daniel Navajas
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Universitat de Barcelona and CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias
| | - Enrique Martín-Blanco
- Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas;
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13
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Merkel M, Manning ML. Using cell deformation and motion to predict forces and collective behavior in morphogenesis. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2017; 67:161-169. [PMID: 27496334 PMCID: PMC5290285 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2016.07.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2016] [Revised: 07/05/2016] [Accepted: 07/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
In multi-cellular organisms, morphogenesis translates processes at the cellular scale into tissue deformation at the scale of organs and organisms. To understand how biochemical signaling regulates tissue form and function, we must understand the mechanical forces that shape cells and tissues. Recent progress in developing mechanical models for tissues has led to quantitative predictions for how cell shape changes and polarized cell motility generate forces and collective behavior on the tissue scale. In particular, much insight has been gained by thinking about biological tissues as physical materials composed of cells. Here we review these advances and discuss how they might help shape future experiments in developmental biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Merkel
- Department of Physics, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, United States
| | - M Lisa Manning
- Department of Physics, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, United States.
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14
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Ferreira RR, Vermot J. The balancing roles of mechanical forces during left-right patterning and asymmetric morphogenesis. Mech Dev 2017; 144:71-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2016.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 11/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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15
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Hernández-Vega A, Marsal M, Pouille PA, Tosi S, Colombelli J, Luque T, Navajas D, Pagonabarraga I, Martín-Blanco E. Polarized cortical tension drives zebrafish epiboly movements. EMBO J 2016; 36:25-41. [PMID: 27834222 DOI: 10.15252/embj.201694264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2016] [Revised: 09/18/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The principles underlying the biomechanics of morphogenesis are largely unknown. Epiboly is an essential embryonic event in which three tissues coordinate to direct the expansion of the blastoderm. How and where forces are generated during epiboly, and how these are globally coupled remains elusive. Here we developed a method, hydrodynamic regression (HR), to infer 3D pressure fields, mechanical power, and cortical surface tension profiles. HR is based on velocity measurements retrieved from 2D+T microscopy and their hydrodynamic modeling. We applied HR to identify biomechanically active structures and changes in cortex local tension during epiboly in zebrafish. Based on our results, we propose a novel physical description for epiboly, where tissue movements are directed by a polarized gradient of cortical tension. We found that this gradient relies on local contractile forces at the cortex, differences in elastic properties between cortex components and the passive transmission of forces within the yolk cell. All in all, our work identifies a novel way to physically regulate concerted cellular movements that might be instrumental for the mechanical control of many morphogenetic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amayra Hernández-Vega
- Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Barcelona, Spain
| | - María Marsal
- Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Philippe-Alexandre Pouille
- Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sébastien Tosi
- Advanced Digital Microscopy Core Facility (ADMCF), Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julien Colombelli
- Advanced Digital Microscopy Core Facility (ADMCF), Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Tomás Luque
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain.,Facultad de Medicina i Ciencies de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Navajas
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain.,Facultad de Medicina i Ciencies de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ignacio Pagonabarraga
- Departament de Física de la Matèria Condensada, Facultat de Física, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Enrique Martín-Blanco
- Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Barcelona, Spain
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16
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Campàs O. A toolbox to explore the mechanics of living embryonic tissues. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2016; 55:119-30. [PMID: 27061360 PMCID: PMC4903887 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2016.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2016] [Accepted: 03/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The sculpting of embryonic tissues and organs into their functional morphologies involves the spatial and temporal regulation of mechanics at cell and tissue scales. Decades of in vitro work, complemented by some in vivo studies, have shown the relevance of mechanical cues in the control of cell behaviors that are central to developmental processes, but the lack of methodologies enabling precise, quantitative measurements of mechanical cues in vivo have hindered our understanding of the role of mechanics in embryonic development. Several methodologies are starting to enable quantitative studies of mechanics in vivo and in situ, opening new avenues to explore how mechanics contributes to shaping embryonic tissues and how it affects cell behavior within developing embryos. Here we review the present methodologies to study the role of mechanics in living embryonic tissues, considering their strengths and drawbacks as well as the conditions in which they are most suitable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otger Campàs
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; California Nanosystems Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.
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17
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Cytoskeletal Symmetry Breaking and Chirality: From Reconstituted Systems to Animal Development. Symmetry (Basel) 2015. [DOI: 10.3390/sym7042062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
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18
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Samarage C, White M, Álvarez Y, Fierro-González J, Henon Y, Jesudason E, Bissiere S, Fouras A, Plachta N. Cortical Tension Allocates the First Inner Cells of the Mammalian Embryo. Dev Cell 2015; 34:435-47. [DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2015.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2015] [Revised: 05/18/2015] [Accepted: 07/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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19
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Chen BC, Legant WR, Wang K, Shao L, Milkie DE, Davidson MW, Janetopoulos C, Wu XS, Hammer JA, Liu Z, English BP, Mimori-Kiyosue Y, Romero DP, Ritter AT, Lippincott-Schwartz J, Fritz-Laylin L, Mullins RD, Mitchell DM, Bembenek JN, Reymann AC, Böhme R, Grill SW, Wang JT, Seydoux G, Tulu US, Kiehart DP, Betzig E. Lattice light-sheet microscopy: imaging molecules to embryos at high spatiotemporal resolution. Science 2014; 346:1257998. [PMID: 25342811 DOI: 10.1126/science.1257998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1140] [Impact Index Per Article: 114.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Although fluorescence microscopy provides a crucial window into the physiology of living specimens, many biological processes are too fragile, are too small, or occur too rapidly to see clearly with existing tools. We crafted ultrathin light sheets from two-dimensional optical lattices that allowed us to image three-dimensional (3D) dynamics for hundreds of volumes, often at subsecond intervals, at the diffraction limit and beyond. We applied this to systems spanning four orders of magnitude in space and time, including the diffusion of single transcription factor molecules in stem cell spheroids, the dynamic instability of mitotic microtubules, the immunological synapse, neutrophil motility in a 3D matrix, and embryogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster. The results provide a visceral reminder of the beauty and the complexity of living systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bi-Chang Chen
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Wesley R Legant
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Kai Wang
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Lin Shao
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Daniel E Milkie
- Coleman Technologies, Incorporated, Newtown Square, PA 19073, USA
| | - Michael W Davidson
- National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA
| | - Chris Janetopoulos
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Xufeng S Wu
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - John A Hammer
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Zhe Liu
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Brian P English
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Yuko Mimori-Kiyosue
- Optical Image Analysis Unit, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Daniel P Romero
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Alex T Ritter
- Cell Biology and Metabolism Program, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0XY, England, UK
| | - Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz
- Cell Biology and Metabolism Program, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Lillian Fritz-Laylin
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - R Dyche Mullins
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Diana M Mitchell
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Joshua N Bembenek
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Anne-Cecile Reymann
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany. Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Ralph Böhme
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany. Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Stephan W Grill
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany. Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Jennifer T Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Center for Cell Dynamics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Geraldine Seydoux
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Center for Cell Dynamics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - U Serdar Tulu
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | | | - Eric Betzig
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA.
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20
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Varner VD, Nelson CM. Let's push things forward: disruptive technologies and the mechanics of tissue assembly. Integr Biol (Camb) 2014; 5:1162-73. [PMID: 23907401 DOI: 10.1039/c3ib40080h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Although many of the molecular mechanisms that regulate tissue assembly in the embryo have been delineated, the physical forces that couple these mechanisms to actual changes in tissue form remain unclear. Qualitative studies suggest that mechanical loads play a regulatory role in development, but clear quantitative evidence has been lacking. This is partly owing to the complex nature of these problems - embryonic tissues typically undergo large deformations and exhibit evolving, highly viscoelastic material properties. Still, despite these challenges, new disruptive technologies are enabling study of the mechanics of tissue assembly in unprecedented detail. Here, we present novel experimental techniques that enable the study of each component of these physical problems: kinematics, forces, and constitutive properties. Specifically, we detail advances in light sheet microscopy, optical coherence tomography, traction force microscopy, fluorescence force spectroscopy, microrheology and micropatterning. Taken together, these technologies are helping elucidate a more quantitative understanding of the mechanics of tissue assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor D Varner
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
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21
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Zhang H, Labouesse M. Signalling through mechanical inputs: a coordinated process. J Cell Sci 2013; 125:3039-49. [PMID: 22929901 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.093666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
There is growing awareness that mechanical forces - in parallel to electrical or chemical inputs - have a central role in driving development and influencing the outcome of many diseases. However, we still have an incomplete understanding of how such forces function in coordination with each other and with other signalling inputs in vivo. Mechanical forces, which are generated throughout the organism, can produce signals through force-sensitive processes. Here, we first explore the mechanisms through which forces can be generated and the cellular responses to forces by discussing several examples from animal development. We then go on to examine the mechanotransduction-induced signalling processes that have been identified in vivo. Finally, we discuss what is known about the specificity of the responses to different forces, the mechanisms that might stabilize cells in response to such forces, and the crosstalk between mechanical forces and chemical signalling. Where known, we mention kinetic parameters that characterize forces and their responses. The multi-layered regulatory control of force generation, force response and force adaptation should be viewed as a well-integrated aspect in the greater biological signalling systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huimin Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, SooChow University, SuZhou Industrial Park, SuZhou, China. [corrected]
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22
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Gorfinkiel N. Mechano-chemical coupling drives cell area oscillations during morphogenesis. Biophys J 2013; 104:1-3. [PMID: 23332051 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2012.11.3822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2012] [Revised: 11/20/2012] [Accepted: 11/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Gorfinkiel
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
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23
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Joshi SD, Davidson LA. Epithelial machines of morphogenesis and their potential application in organ assembly and tissue engineering. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2012; 11:1109-21. [PMID: 22854913 PMCID: PMC3664917 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-012-0423-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2012] [Accepted: 07/17/2012] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Sheets of embryonic epithelial cells coordinate their efforts to create diverse tissue structures such as pits, grooves, tubes, and capsules that lead to organ formation. Such cells can use a number of cell behaviors including contractility, proliferation, and directed movement to create these structures. By contrast, tissue engineers and researchers in regenerative medicine seeking to produce organs for repair or replacement therapy can combine cells with synthetic polymeric scaffolds. Tissue engineers try to achieve these goals by shaping scaffold geometry in such a way that cells embedded within these scaffold self-assemble to form a tissue, for instance aligning to synthetic fibers, and assembling native extracellular matrix to form the desired tissue-like structure. Although self-assembly is a dominant process that guides tissue assembly both within the embryo and within artificial tissue constructs, we know little about these critical processes. Here, we compare and contrast strategies of tissue assembly used by embryos to those used by engineers during epithelial morphogenesis and highlight opportunities for future applications of developmental biology in the field of tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagar D. Joshi
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3501 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15213
| | - Lance A. Davidson
- Departments of Bioengineering and Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3501 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15213
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24
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Colombelli J, Solon J. Force communication in multicellular tissues addressed by laser nanosurgery. Cell Tissue Res 2012; 352:133-47. [DOI: 10.1007/s00441-012-1445-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2012] [Accepted: 04/26/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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25
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Roh-Johnson M, Shemer G, Higgins CD, McClellan JH, Werts AD, Tulu US, Gao L, Betzig E, Kiehart DP, Goldstein B. Triggering a cell shape change by exploiting preexisting actomyosin contractions. Science 2012; 335:1232-5. [PMID: 22323741 DOI: 10.1126/science.1217869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 195] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Apical constriction changes cell shapes, driving critical morphogenetic events, including gastrulation in diverse organisms and neural tube closure in vertebrates. Apical constriction is thought to be triggered by contraction of apical actomyosin networks. We found that apical actomyosin contractions began before cell shape changes in both Caenorhabitis elegans and Drosophila. In C. elegans, actomyosin networks were initially dynamic, contracting and generating cortical tension without substantial shrinking of apical surfaces. Apical cell-cell contact zones and actomyosin only later moved increasingly in concert, with no detectable change in actomyosin dynamics or cortical tension. Thus, apical constriction appears to be triggered not by a change in cortical tension, but by dynamic linking of apical cell-cell contact zones to an already contractile apical cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minna Roh-Johnson
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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