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Visualizing morphogenesis in transgenic zebrafish embryos using BODIPY TR methyl ester dye as a vital counterstain for GFP
Author(s) -
Cooper Mark S.,
Szeto Daniel P.,
SommersHerivel Greg,
Topczewski Jacek,
SolnicaKrezel Lila,
Kang HeeChol,
Johnson Iain,
Kimelman David
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.20252
Subject(s) - green fluorescent protein , zebrafish , biology , bodipy , fluorophore , transgene , morphogenesis , confocal microscopy , microbiology and biotechnology , fluorescence , fluorescence microscope , embryo , biochemistry , gene , physics , quantum mechanics
Abstract Green fluorescent protein (GFP) technology is rapidly advancing the study of morphogenesis, by allowing researchers to specifically focus on a subset of labeled cells within the living embryo. However, when imaging GFP‐labeled cells using confocal microscopy, it is often essential to simultaneously visualize all of the cells in the embryo using dual‐channel fluorescence to provide an embryological context for the cells expressing GFP. Although various counterstains are available, part of their fluorescence overlaps with the GFP emission spectra, making it difficult to clearly identify the cells expressing GFP. In this study, we report that a new fluorophore, BODIPY TR methyl ester dye, serves as a versatile vital counterstain for visualizing the cellular dynamics of morphogenesis within living GFP transgenic zebrafish embryos. The fluorescence of this photostable synthetic dye is spectrally separate from GFP fluorescence, allowing dual‐channel, three‐dimensional (3D) and four‐dimensional (4D) confocal image data sets of living specimens to be easily acquired. These image data sets can be rendered subsequently into uniquely informative 3D and 4D visualizations using computer‐assisted visualization software. We discuss a variety of immediate and potential applications of BODIPY TR methyl ester dye as a vital visualization counterstain for GFP in transgenic zebrafish embryos. Developmental Dynamics 232:359–368, 2005. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.