A method for lineage tracing of corneal cells using multi-color fluorescent reporter mice

Aya Amitai-Lange, Eran Berkowitz, Anna Altshuler, Noora Dbayat, Waseem Nasser, Edith Suss-Toby, Beatrice Tiosano, Ruby Shalom-Feuerstein

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Lineage tracing experiments define the origin, fate and behavior of cells in a specific tissue or organism. This technique has been successfully applied for many decades, revealing seminal findings in developmental biology. More recently, it was adopted by stem cell biologists to identify and track different stem cell populations with minimal experimental intervention. The recent developments in mouse genetics, the availability of a large number of mouse strains, and the advancements in fluorescent microscopy allow the straightforward design of powerful lineage tracing systems for various tissues with basic expertise, using commercially available tools. We have recently taken advantage of this powerful methodology to explore the origin and fate of stem cells at the ocular surface using R26R-Confetti mouse. This model offers a multi-color genetic system, for the expression of 4 fluorescent genes in a random manner. Here we describe the principles of this methodology and provide an adaptable protocol for designing lineage tracing experiments; specifically for the corneal epithelium as well as for other tissues.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere53370
JournalJournal of Visualized Experiments
Volume2015
Issue number106
DOIs
StatePublished - 18 Dec 2015

Keywords

  • Confetti mouse
  • Cornea
  • Developmental Biology
  • Issue 106
  • Limbal stem cells
  • Limbus
  • Lineage tracing
  • Stem cells

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemical Engineering
  • General Immunology and Microbiology
  • General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Neuroscience

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