In vivo imaging

In order to understand the cell behaviour during head formation we have generated transgenic lines that express nuclear localized EGFP under the control of the heat shock promter. Michalis Averof has generated additional lines using a ubiquitous promoter. These lines allow us to image the cells in vivo.

Brain imaging

We want to identify genes that regulate neuroblast identity specification. As a prerequisite, we we have generated lines with upstream regions of putative NB markers in order to follow the fate of neuroblast groups. Moreover, our glia-reporter line in combination with a line that marks neural cells (gift of Michalis Averof) allows us to image changes in brain morphology in live larvae.

Clonal analysis

In collaboration with Michalis Averof we are trying to establish the "brainbow" system which allows permanent marking of cells. This occurs via Cre/Lox recombination which removes a STOP signal between a nervous system specific promoter and fluorescent proteins. By chance, one of three different fluorescent proteins is activated.

© Gregor Bucher, last update: September 09