2021 article

Automated tracking of S. pombe spindle elongation dynamics

Uzsoy, A. S. M., Zareiesfandabadi, P., Jennings, J., Kemper, A. F., & Elting, M. W. (2021, July 8). JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY.

co-author countries: United States of America 🇺🇸
author keywords: automation; cell division; fission yeast; fluorescence imaging; image analysis; live-cell imaging; mitotic spindle
MeSH headings : Microscopy; Microtubules / chemistry; Mitosis; Schizosaccharomyces; Spindle Apparatus
Source: Web Of Science
Added: August 16, 2021

The mitotic spindle is a microtubule-based machine that pulls the two identical sets of chromosomes to opposite ends of the cell during cell division. The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is an important model organism for studying mitosis due to its simple, stereotyped spindle structure and well-established genetic toolset. S. pombe spindle length is a useful metric for mitotic progression, but manually tracking spindle ends in each frame to measure spindle length over time is laborious and can limit experimental throughput. We have developed an ImageJ plugin that can automatically track S. pombe spindle length over time and replace manual or semi-automated tracking of spindle elongation dynamics. Using an algorithm that detects the principal axis of the spindle and then finds its ends, we reliably track the length of the spindle as the cell divides. The plugin integrates with existing ImageJ features, exports its data for further analysis outside of ImageJ and does not require any programming by the user. Thus, the plugin provides an accessible tool for quantification of S. pombe spindle length that will allow automatic analysis of large microscopy data sets and facilitate screening for effects of cell biological perturbations on mitotic progression.The mitotic spindle is a biological machine that pulls the two identical sets of DNA to opposite ends of the cell during cell division. Incorrect cell division can result in serious issues like cancer and miscarriages. Schizosaccharomyces pombe (S. pombe), a kind of yeast, is commonly used to study cell division because its mitotic spindle is essentially linear in shape and its DNA sequence is well known, allowing for more complex experiments. To measure how well a cell divides, we measure the length of the spindle over time, but this can be tedious to do by hand for many cell images. We have developed software that interfaces with ImageJ (a common image analysis tool) that automatically tracks the length of S. pombe spindles over time and can replace manual tracking. Our software calculates the spindle's lines of symmetry, while allows us to accurately measure the length and track the ends over time. It integrates with existing ImageJ features, exports its data for further analysis outside of ImageJ, and does not require any programming by the user. Thus, the plugin provides an accessible tool for measuring S. pombe spindle length that will allow automatic analysis of large microscopy data sets and facilitate screening for effects of defects in cell division. This will facilitate the study of the basic fundamental process of how cells divide, and could have significant long term medical impacts.