• DOI:10.1038/srep32962
• Corpus ID: 18341605

Real-time prediction of cell division timing in developing zebrafish embryo

@article{Kozawa2016RealtimePO,
  title={Real-time prediction of cell division timing in developing zebrafish embryo},
  author={Satoshi Kozawa and Takashi Akanuma and Tetsuo Sato and Yasuomi D. Sato and K. Ikeda and Thomas N. Sato},
  journal={Scientific Reports},
  year={2016},
  volume={6}
}

• Satoshi Kozawa, Takashi Akanuma, +3 authors Thomas N. Sato
• Published 6 September 2016
• Biology
• Scientific Reports

Combination of live-imaging and live-manipulation of developing embryos in vivo provides a useful tool to study developmental processes. Identification and selection of target cells for an in vivo live-manipulation are generally performed by experience- and knowledge-based decision-making of the observer. Computer-assisted live-prediction method would be an additional approach to facilitate the identification and selection of the appropriate target cells. Herein we report such a method using developing zebrafish embryos. We choose V2 neural progenitor cells in developing zebrafish embryo as their successive shape changes can be visualized in real-time in vivo. We developed a relatively simple mathematical method of describing cellular geometry of V2 cells to predict cell division-timing based on their successively changing shapes in vivo. Using quantitatively measured 4D live-imaging data, features of V2 cell-shape at each time point prior to division were extracted and a statistical model capturing the successive changes of the V2 cell-shape was developed. By applying sequential Bayesian inference method to the model, we successfully predicted division-timing of randomly selected individual V2 cells while the cell behavior was being live-imaged. This system could assist pre-selecting target cells desirable for real-time manipulation–thus, presenting a new opportunity for in vivo experimental systems.