Systematic Multi-scale Analysis of Tissue Morphogenesis Recent progress in live imaging offers unprecedented opportunities to examine cellular behaviors and how cell- cell interactions give rise to complex tissues in vivo. We propose to develop novel computational approaches to analyze and synthesize the complex phenotypic data from live imaging and apply them to study how collective cell behaviors mediate cell movement in tissue morphogenesis and achieve robust cell positioning. We use C. elegans embryogenesis as our model, where we have developed techniques for high throughput imaging and automated cell tracking that allow us to perturb hundreds of genes and conduct detailed lineage analysis in thousands of embryos. We propose three aims. First, we will develop new algorithms for accurate cell tracking in dense tissues, including a new method based on multi-color labeling of nuclei. Accuracy in cell tracking is a major bottleneck in systematic analysis of individual cell behaviors, especially in dense tissues. This effort will provide novel tools with improved accuracy, which in turn allows more effective analysis of individual cell behaviors in large image datasets. Second, We will examine novel mechanisms that mediate cell movement in tissue morphogenesis and achieve robust cell positioning. These include a novel form of multicellular rosette where sequential edge contraction and resolution events mediate directional cell movement. We also propose a novel model of robust cell positioning where cells assess their neighborhoods and activate movement when a desired neighbor is missing. We will elucidate the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms combining genetic perturbations, systematic single-cell analysis and a novel method for real-time tracking and optical manipulation of single cells. This study will broaden our understanding of developmental noise control at the cellular and tissue levels. Third, We will develop a novel agent-based modeling framework to integrate complex phenotypic data for multi-scale analysis of complex tissues. We will develop a software package for general use beyond C. elegans. We will then apply it to examine lineage differentiation and tissue morphogenesis in C. elegans embryogenesis based on the thousands of perturbed embryos collected in this and our previous studies. In particular, we will further examine robustness in cell positioning by integrating the model above with a PCP-like model of Wnt-based spindle control. This work will provide a powerful tool to examine complex tissues across molecular, cellular and tissue levels, and further insights on the robustness of tissue morphogenesis.

Public Health Relevance

This project takes a systems biology strategy and a multidisciplinary approach involving live microscopy, genetics and computational sciences to address novel mechanisms that mediate cell movement and achieve robust tissue morphogenesis. The biological insights and the tools developed in this project will ultimately help us understand complex tissue formation in humans and birth defects.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01GM097576-06
Application #
9311707
Study Section
Development - 1 Study Section (DEV1)
Program Officer
Sammak, Paul J
Project Start
2011-08-01
Project End
2021-04-30
Budget Start
2017-05-01
Budget End
2018-04-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research
Department
Type
DUNS #
064931884
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10065
Katzman, Braden; Tang, Doris; Santella, Anthony et al. (2018) AceTree: a major update and case study in the long term maintenance of open-source scientific software. BMC Bioinformatics 19:121
Shah, Pavak Kirit; Santella, Anthony; Jacobo, Adrian et al. (2017) An In Toto Approach to Dissecting Cellular Interactions in Complex Tissues. Dev Cell 43:530-540.e4
Shah, Pavak K; Tanner, Matthew R; Kovacevic, Ismar et al. (2017) PCP and SAX-3/Robo Pathways Cooperate to Regulate Convergent Extension-Based Nerve Cord Assembly in C. elegans. Dev Cell 41:195-203.e3
Roy, Debasmita; Michaelson, David; Hochman, Tsivia et al. (2016) Cell cycle features of C. elegans germline stem/progenitor cells vary temporally and spatially. Dev Biol 409:261-271
Santella, Anthony; Kovacevic, Ismar; Herndon, Laura A et al. (2016) Digital development: a database of cell lineage differentiation in C. elegans with lineage phenotypes, cell-specific gene functions and a multiscale model. Nucleic Acids Res 44:D781-5
Wang, Zi; Ramsey, Benjamin J; Wang, Dali et al. (2016) An Observation-Driven Agent-Based Modeling and Analysis Framework for C. elegans Embryogenesis. PLoS One 11:e0166551
Elewa, Ahmed; Shirayama, Masaki; Kaymak, Ebru et al. (2015) POS-1 Promotes Endo-mesoderm Development by Inhibiting the Cytoplasmic Polyadenylation of neg-1 mRNA. Dev Cell 34:108-18
Du, Zhuo; Santella, Anthony; He, Fei et al. (2015) The Regulatory Landscape of Lineage Differentiation in a Metazoan Embryo. Dev Cell 34:592-607
Du, Zhuo; He, Fei; Yu, Zidong et al. (2015) E3 ubiquitin ligases promote progression of differentiation during C. elegans embryogenesis. Dev Biol 398:267-79
Vidal, Berta; Santella, Anthony; Serrano-Saiz, Esther et al. (2015) C. elegans SoxB genes are dispensable for embryonic neurogenesis but required for terminal differentiation of specific neuron types. Development 142:2464-77

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