Difference-from-prediction Imaging for High Resolution Shape Analysis of Locomoting Cells

抄録

Fan-shaped keratocytes from fish epidermis are an excellent model system for studying mechanisms of amoeboid cell locomotion. Their overall shape and size remain roughly constant during locomotion, and the detailed morphology of their cell margin can be described mathematically by the GRE model. Previously, we developed a method for quantitative shape analysis during locomotion of the keratocytes, using shape prediction calculated according to the GRE model. In this paper, we present an improved version of our difference-from-prediction method for high resolution analysis of cell shape changes during locomotion. By superimposing the difference-from-prediction plot of cell outline onto the original microscope image, subtle but significant changes on local cell margin have been visually detected and quantitatively evaluated. By using this analysis, the way cells move on surfaces can be described in detail.