Poster Session II
Project Type
Poster
Project Funding and Affiliations
CBSD/DBBS/PROTECH
Faculty Mentor’s Full Name
Ekaterina Voronina
Faculty Mentor’s Department
DBBS
Additional Mentor
Gabriella Weiss gabriella.weiss@umontana.edu
Abstract / Artist's Statement
Live imaging of the C. elegans germline in situ enables direct observation of dynamic developmental processes as they occur, which has particular relevance in the study of protein expression and germline stem cell dynamics.
Traditional methods of immobilization are often physiologically taxing on C. elegans. Chemical immobilization via paralytics often compromise worm viability, disrupting the cellular processes we aim to study by sickening them, inducing stress responses. Starvation in particular is a significant limitation as stress signaling is known to directly inhibit GSC division rapidly upon food cessation.
In the Voronina lab, we set out to develop two microfluidics based live imaging systems involving physical immobilization of subjects within channels, one designed for short term imaging without feeding and one capable of continual feeding, allowing for mid to long term imaging.
We developed prototypes of both systems in collaboration with the PROTECH Core and have focused on testing and optimization since. Work is ongoing, but we have seen preliminary success with in situ imaging of the germline utilizing both approaches, particularly in investigating protein expression.
With live imaging capabilities of the germline in situ, these approaches allow for real time, dynamic observation of biological processes and stem cell dynamics within actively developing subjects, providing valuable insights that cannot be produced through traditional static imaging.
Category
Life Sciences
Microfluidics for Live Imaging of C. elegans Germline Stem Cells
UC South Ballroom
Live imaging of the C. elegans germline in situ enables direct observation of dynamic developmental processes as they occur, which has particular relevance in the study of protein expression and germline stem cell dynamics.
Traditional methods of immobilization are often physiologically taxing on C. elegans. Chemical immobilization via paralytics often compromise worm viability, disrupting the cellular processes we aim to study by sickening them, inducing stress responses. Starvation in particular is a significant limitation as stress signaling is known to directly inhibit GSC division rapidly upon food cessation.
In the Voronina lab, we set out to develop two microfluidics based live imaging systems involving physical immobilization of subjects within channels, one designed for short term imaging without feeding and one capable of continual feeding, allowing for mid to long term imaging.
We developed prototypes of both systems in collaboration with the PROTECH Core and have focused on testing and optimization since. Work is ongoing, but we have seen preliminary success with in situ imaging of the germline utilizing both approaches, particularly in investigating protein expression.
With live imaging capabilities of the germline in situ, these approaches allow for real time, dynamic observation of biological processes and stem cell dynamics within actively developing subjects, providing valuable insights that cannot be produced through traditional static imaging.