Analysis of pattern formation in the epidermis of the adult abdomen of Drosophila by in vivo 4D-microscopy

一组细胞是如何形成复杂图案的？不同的细胞过程必须动态地协同工作，以定位和定位所有细胞，以确保适当的发育。我的目的是用活体4D显微镜研究果蝇成虫腹部表皮中的图案形成。果蝇的腹部表皮非常适合研究图案的形成：它在变态过程中通过各种不同的过程重新形成，包括细胞分离和细胞运动，以及在上皮中建立严格的前后两极。4D显微镜通过生成记录空间和时间过程的电影，可以在单细胞水平上分析细胞行为。我将把这种成像技术与克隆分析结合起来，研究移除或过度表达某些基因产物对细胞行为的影响。我将把重点放在影响细胞极性和特性的基因上，这些基因被认为是图案形成的重要因素。这将使我能够深入了解细胞运动、细胞形状变化和细胞极性的潜在机制，并在成人腹部建立时发生的广泛细胞运动和细胞分裂过程中发现细胞行为的新方面。

How are complex patterns formed by groups of cells? Different cellular processes have to work together dynamically to position and orient all cells to ensure proper development. I aim to investigate pattern formation in the adult abdominal epidermis of Drosophila by in vivo 4D-microscopy. The abdominal epidermis of Drosophila is well suited to study pattern formation: it is formed anew during metamorphosis by a variety of different processes, including cell sorting and cell movements plus the establishment of a strict antero-posterior polarity in the epithelium. 4D-microscopy allows the analysis of cell behaviour at the level of single cells by generating movies that record a process in both space and time. I will combine this imaging technique with clonal analysis to study the effects of removing or over-expressing certain gene products on cell behaviour. I will focus on genes which affect cellular polarity and identity and are known to be important for patterning. This will allow me to gain insights into the mechanisms underlying cell movements, cell shape changes, and cellular polarity and to find new aspects of cell behaviour during the extensive cell movements and cell divisions that occur while the adult abdomen is being built.