Table 1 Examples of insights into EMT gained from in vivo live imaging of embryonic development
From: Cellular dynamics of EMT: lessons from live in vivo imaging of embryonic development
Major findings | Developmental process | Model Embryo | Live imaging strategy | Microscopy | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Actomyosin contractility promotes AJ remodeling and protects AJs from Snail-dependent disassembly during EMT | Gastrulation | Drosophila | Label AJs with GFP-tagged E-Cad Detect Myosin II activity using mCherry-tagged Myosin II RLC | Laser scanning confocal | [32] |
FGF signaling regulates AJ dynamics and cell division during EMT, and apical-basal polarization during MET | Gastrulation | Drosophila | Label nuclei with GFP-tagged Histone 2A | Multi-photon | [42] |
Pk1 deficient NCCs fail to transition to mesenchymal morphology, and have altered Cadherin expression | Neural crest cell development | Zebrafish | Express GFP using NCC-specific promoter Label F-actin in NCCs with Lifeact:GFP | Laser scanning confocal | [55] |
Pk1-mediated PCP signaling regulates adhesion forces between mesenchymal cells during MET | Kupffer’s vesicle development | Zebrafish | Express GFP using DFC/KV promoter | Multi-photon | [67] |
PCP-mediated migration regulates mechanical stiffness of mesoderm that induces NCC EMT | Neural crest cell development | Xenopus | Transplant fluorescent NCCs Measure mesoderm elastic modulus | Compound fluorescence Atomic force microscopy | [73] |
Cdh6 regulates the spatial distribution of Rho GTPase activity that localizes F-actin and apical detachment during EMT | Neural crest cell development | Zebrafish | Express membrane localized GFP using NCC-specific promoter Label F-actin in NCCs with mCherry-UtrCH Use Rho biosensor to measure Rho activity | Laser scanning confocal | [85] |
Crb2 regulates AJ disassembly and actomyosin-driven EMT | Gastrulation | Mouse | Mosaic label cells with Cre-mediated activation of membrane-GFP | Laser scanning confocal | [91] |
After EMT, mesodermal subpopulations develop different cell morphologies, migration dynamics, and cytoskeletal compositions | Gastrulation | Mouse | Mosaic label cells with Cre-mediated activation of membrane-GFP Label F-actin in with Lifeact:GFP | Multi-photon | [98] |