Semi-automated quantification of filopodial dynamics.

摘要: Cellular motility underlies critical physiological processes including embryogenesis, metastasis and wound healing. Nerve cells undergo cellular migration during development also extend neuronal for long distances through a complex microenvironment to appropriately wire the nervous system. The growth cone is highly dynamic structure that responds extracellular cues by extending retracting filopodia lamellipodia explore dictate path speed of process extension. Neuronal responses myriad guidance have been studied biochemically, however, these approaches fail capture spatio-temporal elements dynamics. Live imaging cones in culture has emerged as powerful tool study but nature requires careful quantitative analysis. Space time kymographs developed quantify dynamics semi-automated fashion no such tools exist analyze filopodial In this work we present an algorithm from cultured neurons imaged time-lapse fluorescence microscopy. method based on locating end tips tracking their locations if they were free-moving particles. useful should be broadly applicable multiple cell types.