Development of a microscope system that enables time-lapse imaging of cellular behavior in growing roots

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K14548
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Plant molecular biology/Plant physiology
• Research Institution: Nara Institute of Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Nakajima Keiji 奈良先端科学技術大学院大学, バイオサイエンス研究科, 教授 (80273853)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): MIYASHIMA Shunsuke 奈良先端科学技術大学院大学, バイオサイエンス研究科, 助教 (20727169) ; GOH Tatsuaki 奈良先端科学技術大学院大学, バイオサイエンス研究科, 助教 (80511419) ; FURUTA Kaori 奈良先端科学技術大学院大学, バイオサイエンス研究科, 研究員 (10746655)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 植物 / 根 / 顕微鏡 / タイムラプス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Continuous observation of cell behavior and gene expression dynamics at the tip of growing roots is essential to investigate the regulation of root and plant growth. It had been, however, very challenging, as the tip of extending roots easily go out of a microscopic field. Using a microscope with a vertically oriented, motor-driven sample stage, we developed a system that can track the tip of growing roots for several days. Using this system, we could successfully follow an entire process of cell detachment in the Arabidopsis root cap.

Free Research Field

植物発生生物学