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Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) is an ultra-sensitive optical technique to investigate the dynamic properties of ensembles of single fluorescent molecules in solution. It is in particular suited for measurements in biological samples. High sensitivity is obtained by employing confocal microscopy setups with diffraction limited small detection volumes, and by using single-photon sensitive detectors, for example avalanche photo diodes (APD). However, fluorescence signal is hence typically collected from a single focus position in the sample only, and several measurements at different positions have to be performed successively. To overcome the time-consuming successive FCS measurements, we introduce electron multiplying CCD (EMCCD) camera-based spatially resolved detection for FCS. With this new detection method, multiplexed FCS measurements become feasible. Towards this goal, we perform FCS measurements with two focal volumes. As an application, we demonstrate spatial cross-correlation measurements between the two detection volumes, which allow to measure calibration-free diffusion coefficients and direction-sensitive processes like molecular flow in microfluidic channels. FCS is furthermore applied to living zebrafish embryos, to investigate the concentration gradient of the morphogen fibroblast growth factor 8 (Fgf8). It is shown by one-focus APD-based and two-focus EMCCD-based FCS, that Fgf8 propagates largely by random diffusion through the extracellular space in developing tissue. The stable concentration gradient is shown to arise from the equilibrium between a local morphogen production and the sink function of the receiving cells by receptor-mediated removal from the extracellular space. The study shows the applicability of FCS to whole model organisms. Especially in such dynamically changing systems in vivo, the perspective of fast parallel FCS measurements is of great importance. In this work, we exemplify parallel, spatially resolved FCS by utilizing an EMCCD camera. The approach, however, can be easily adapted to any other class of two-dimensional array detector. Novel generations of array detectors might become available in the near future, so that multiplexed spatial FCS could then emerge as a standard extension to classical one-focus FCS. / Fluoreszenz-Korrelations-Spektroskopie (FCS) ist eine hochempfindliche optische Methode, um die dynamischen Eigenschaften eines Ensembles von einzelnen, fluoreszierenden Molekülen in Lösung zu erforschen. Sie ist insbesondere geeignet für Messungen in biologischen Proben. Die hohe Empfindlichkeit wird erreicht durch Verwendung konfokaler Mikroskop-Aufbauten mit beugungsbegrenztem Detektionsvolumen, und durch Messung der Fluoreszenz mit Einzelphotonen-empfindlichen Detektoren, zum Beispiel Avalanche-Photodioden (APD). Dadurch wird das Fluoreszenzsignal allerdings nur von einer einzelnen Fokusposition in der Probe eingesammelt, und mehrfache Messungen an verschiedenen Positionen in der Probe müssen nacheinander durchgeführt werden. Um die zeitaufwendigen, aufeinanderfolgenden FCS-Einzelmessungen zu überwinden, entwickeln wir in dieser Arbeit Elektronenvervielfachungs-CCD (EMCCD) Kamera-basierte räumlich aufgelöste Detektion für FCS. Mit dieser neuartigen Detektionsmethode werden Multiplex-FCS Messungen möglich. Darauf abzielend führen wir FCS Messungen mit zwei Detektionsvolumina durch. Als Anwendung nutzen wir die räumliche Kreuzkorrelation zwischen dem Signal beider Fokalvolumina. Sie ermöglicht die kalibrationsfreie Bestimmung von Diffusionskoeffizienten und die Messung von gerichteter Bewegung, wie zum Beispiel laminarem Fluss in mikrostrukturierten Kanälen. FCS wird darüber hinaus angewendet auf Messungen in lebenden Zebrafischembryonen, um den Konzentrationsgradienten des Morphogens Fibroblasten-Wachstumsfaktor 8 (Fgf8) zu untersuchen. Mit Hilfe von APD-basierter ein-Fokus FCS und EMCCD-basierter zwei-Fokus FCS zeigen wir, dass Fgf8 hauptsächlich frei diffffundiert im extrazellulären Raum des sich entwickelnden Embryos. Der stabile Konzentrationsgradient entsteht durch ein Gleichgewicht von lokaler Morphogenproduktion und globalem Morphogenabbau durch Rezeptor vermittelte Entfernung aus dem extrazellulären Raum. Die Studie zeigt die Anwendbarkeit von FCS in ganzen Modell-Organismen. Gerade in diesen sich dynamisch ändernden Systemen in vivo ist die Perspektive schneller, paralleler FCS-Messungen von großer Bedeutung. In dieser Arbeit wird räumlich aufgelöste FCS am Beispiel einer EMCCD Kamera durchgeführt. Die Herangehensweise ist jedoch einfach übertragbar auf jede andere Art von zwei-dimensionalem Flächendetektor. Neuartige Flächendetektoren könnten in naher Zukunft verfügbar sein. Dann könnte räumlich aufgelöste Multiplex-FCS eine standardisierte Erweiterung zur klassischen ein-Fokus FCS werden.

Orientador: José Buratini Júnior / Resumo: A maturação in vitro (MIV) é uma etapa fundamental da produção in vitro de embriões bovinos (PIV). A conclusão prematura da maturação nuclear durante a MIV é considerada como uma das principais causas da eficiência limitada da PIV. Em camundongos, o fator de crescimento dos fibroblastos 8 (FGF8) regula a atividade do peptÌdeo natriurético tipo C (NPPC) aumentando a expressão de seu receptor (NPR2) e contribuindo assim para o bloqueio meiótico. O principal objetivo deste trabalho foi testar os efeitos do FGF8 sobre a dinâmica da quebra da vesícula germinativa e progresso da meiose durante a MIV induzida com FSH ou ampirregulina (AREG) em bovinos. Paralelamente, os efeitos do FGF8 sobre a expansão do cumulus e metabolismo da glicose também foram testados. Na MIV induzida com AREG, mas não com FSH, o FGF8 diminuiu a porcentagem de oócitos com quebra da vesícula germinativa às 6 e 9 horas do cultivo, enquanto aumentou a expressão do RNAm do NPPC, mas não do NPR2, nas células do cumulus. Distintamente, na MIV com FSH, o FGF8 diminuiu a porcentagem de oócitos em Meiose I às 9 horas de cultivo. O FGF8 não afetou a porcentagem de oócitos em Meiose II às 22 horas da MIV, nem a expansão do cumulus, embora tenha aumentado a expressão do RNAm de genes da cascata ovulatória [prostaglandina endoperoxido sintase 2 (PTGS2) e desintegrina e metaloproteinase de domínio contendo proteÌna 10 (ADAM 10)]. Além disso, o FGF8 diminuiu o consumo de glicose e a produção de lactato na MIV com FSH, m... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Mestre

Submitted by LORENA SANCHES (losanches25@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-09-05T23:48:16Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Lorena Sanches.pdf: 910469 bytes, checksum: c0365e51eb8f6cf8b8d23bb263de599e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Juliano Benedito Ferreira (julianoferreira@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-09-06T12:34:18Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 sanches_l_me_bot.pdf: 910469 bytes, checksum: c0365e51eb8f6cf8b8d23bb263de599e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-06T12:34:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 sanches_l_me_bot.pdf: 910469 bytes, checksum: c0365e51eb8f6cf8b8d23bb263de599e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / A maturação in vitro (MIV) é uma etapa fundamental da produção in vitro de embriões bovinos (PIV). A conclusão prematura da maturação nuclear durante a MIV é considerada como uma das principais causas da eficiência limitada da PIV. Em camundongos, o fator de crescimento dos fibroblastos 8 (FGF8) regula a atividade do peptÌdeo natriurético tipo C (NPPC) aumentando a expressão de seu receptor (NPR2) e contribuindo assim para o bloqueio meiótico. O principal objetivo deste trabalho foi testar os efeitos do FGF8 sobre a dinâmica da quebra da vesícula germinativa e progresso da meiose durante a MIV induzida com FSH ou ampirregulina (AREG) em bovinos. Paralelamente, os efeitos do FGF8 sobre a expansão do cumulus e metabolismo da glicose também foram testados. Na MIV induzida com AREG, mas não com FSH, o FGF8 diminuiu a porcentagem de oócitos com quebra da vesícula germinativa às 6 e 9 horas do cultivo, enquanto aumentou a expressão do RNAm do NPPC, mas não do NPR2, nas células do cumulus. Distintamente, na MIV com FSH, o FGF8 diminuiu a porcentagem de oócitos em Meiose I às 9 horas de cultivo. O FGF8 não afetou a porcentagem de oócitos em Meiose II às 22 horas da MIV, nem a expansão do cumulus, embora tenha aumentado a expressão do RNAm de genes da cascata ovulatória [prostaglandina endoperoxido sintase 2 (PTGS2) e desintegrina e metaloproteinase de domínio contendo proteÌna 10 (ADAM 10)]. Além disso, o FGF8 diminuiu o consumo de glicose e a produção de lactato na MIV com FSH, mas não com AREG. Em conclusão, o FGF8 desacelera a dinâmica da maturação nuclear enquanto aumento a expressão do NPPC nas células do cumulus durante MIV induzida com AREG e, portanto, apresenta-se como fator potencialmente útil para melhorar a eficiÍncia da MIV. / FAPESP: 2012/06417-8

Examples of asymmetric organs are found throughout the animal kingdom. Whether it is superficial like the fiddler crab’s claw or within an organism like our visceral organs, asymmetries have repeatedly evolved in nature. However, the genetic and developmental origins for asymmetric organ development remain unclear, especially for superficially paired structures. Within zebrafish, a striking example of asymmetry occurs within the ace/fgf8 mutant. The pharyngeal cartilages of these mutants develop asymmetrically 35% of the time, with more cartilages developing on the left or right side of the head, but the origins of this asymmetry are unknown. A significant proportion of mutants also exhibit situs inversus, whereby the visceral organs develop on the opposite side of the body. Here we seek to understand the temporal window most sensitive to giving rise to this asymmetry, and to understand if there is a correlation between the developing heart field and pharyngeal cartilage with respect to the direction of the asymmetry. Wild type (WT) zebrafish were exposed to SU5402 during different periods of development, and heart position as well as cartilage development was observed within the developing larvae. The direction of asymmetry (i.e., left or right biased) was also recorded in ace/fgf8 mutant heart position and cartilage number to observe if there was a correlation between the two developing fields. SU5402 experiments revealed that the time window most sensitive to the development of cartilage asymmetries was during heart looping and pharyngeal arch segmentation. Furthermore, ace/fgf8 mutants exhibited a robust correlation between ventricle position and the side of cartilage asymmetry, with more cartilages forming on the side where the ventricle is located. Given the close proximity of the heart and pharyngeal cartilage fields we suggest that the heart field is influencing the developing cartilage, with signaling permeating from the developing heart to the pharyngeal mesoderm to provide a buffer on the side of the developing ventricle.

Fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) signaling plays multiple inductive roles during development of vertebrates (Itoh 2007). Some Fgfs, such as Fgf8, are locally secreted and signal over a long range to provide positional information in the target tissue (Scholpp and Brand 2004). Fgf ligands signal in a receptor-dependent manner via tyrosine kinase receptors, four of which have been so far identified. Fgf8 signaling was shown to depend both on receptor activation as well as endocytosis. The specificity of Fgf ligands and receptors as well as the function of receptors in the control of the Fgf signaling range have been, however, largely unclear. In this study, we show that the putative Fgf8 receptor Fgfr1 is duplicated in zebrafish and that it acts redundantly in the formation of the posterior mesoderm. Also, in overexpression studies we confirm the notion that receptor endocytosis influences Fgf8 signaling range. Through TILLING mutant recovery and morpholino knockdown studies we also show that Fgfr2 is required for growth and skeletal development in zebrafish, whereas Fgfr4 is required for pectoral fin specification and growth.

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) is an ultra-sensitive optical technique to investigate the dynamic properties of ensembles of single fluorescent molecules in solution. It is in particular suited for measurements in biological samples. High sensitivity is obtained by employing confocal microscopy setups with diffraction limited small detection volumes, and by using single-photon sensitive detectors, for example avalanche photo diodes (APD). However, fluorescence signal is hence typically collected from a single focus position in the sample only, and several measurements at different positions have to be performed successively. To overcome the time-consuming successive FCS measurements, we introduce electron multiplying CCD (EMCCD) camera-based spatially resolved detection for FCS. With this new detection method, multiplexed FCS measurements become feasible. Towards this goal, we perform FCS measurements with two focal volumes. As an application, we demonstrate spatial cross-correlation measurements between the two detection volumes, which allow to measure calibration-free diffusion coefficients and direction-sensitive processes like molecular flow in microfluidic channels. FCS is furthermore applied to living zebrafish embryos, to investigate the concentration gradient of the morphogen fibroblast growth factor 8 (Fgf8). It is shown by one-focus APD-based and two-focus EMCCD-based FCS, that Fgf8 propagates largely by random diffusion through the extracellular space in developing tissue. The stable concentration gradient is shown to arise from the equilibrium between a local morphogen production and the sink function of the receiving cells by receptor-mediated removal from the extracellular space. The study shows the applicability of FCS to whole model organisms. Especially in such dynamically changing systems in vivo, the perspective of fast parallel FCS measurements is of great importance. In this work, we exemplify parallel, spatially resolved FCS by utilizing an EMCCD camera. The approach, however, can be easily adapted to any other class of two-dimensional array detector. Novel generations of array detectors might become available in the near future, so that multiplexed spatial FCS could then emerge as a standard extension to classical one-focus FCS. / Fluoreszenz-Korrelations-Spektroskopie (FCS) ist eine hochempfindliche optische Methode, um die dynamischen Eigenschaften eines Ensembles von einzelnen, fluoreszierenden Molekülen in Lösung zu erforschen. Sie ist insbesondere geeignet für Messungen in biologischen Proben. Die hohe Empfindlichkeit wird erreicht durch Verwendung konfokaler Mikroskop-Aufbauten mit beugungsbegrenztem Detektionsvolumen, und durch Messung der Fluoreszenz mit Einzelphotonen-empfindlichen Detektoren, zum Beispiel Avalanche-Photodioden (APD). Dadurch wird das Fluoreszenzsignal allerdings nur von einer einzelnen Fokusposition in der Probe eingesammelt, und mehrfache Messungen an verschiedenen Positionen in der Probe müssen nacheinander durchgeführt werden. Um die zeitaufwendigen, aufeinanderfolgenden FCS-Einzelmessungen zu überwinden, entwickeln wir in dieser Arbeit Elektronenvervielfachungs-CCD (EMCCD) Kamera-basierte räumlich aufgelöste Detektion für FCS. Mit dieser neuartigen Detektionsmethode werden Multiplex-FCS Messungen möglich. Darauf abzielend führen wir FCS Messungen mit zwei Detektionsvolumina durch. Als Anwendung nutzen wir die räumliche Kreuzkorrelation zwischen dem Signal beider Fokalvolumina. Sie ermöglicht die kalibrationsfreie Bestimmung von Diffusionskoeffizienten und die Messung von gerichteter Bewegung, wie zum Beispiel laminarem Fluss in mikrostrukturierten Kanälen. FCS wird darüber hinaus angewendet auf Messungen in lebenden Zebrafischembryonen, um den Konzentrationsgradienten des Morphogens Fibroblasten-Wachstumsfaktor 8 (Fgf8) zu untersuchen. Mit Hilfe von APD-basierter ein-Fokus FCS und EMCCD-basierter zwei-Fokus FCS zeigen wir, dass Fgf8 hauptsächlich frei diffffundiert im extrazellulären Raum des sich entwickelnden Embryos. Der stabile Konzentrationsgradient entsteht durch ein Gleichgewicht von lokaler Morphogenproduktion und globalem Morphogenabbau durch Rezeptor vermittelte Entfernung aus dem extrazellulären Raum. Die Studie zeigt die Anwendbarkeit von FCS in ganzen Modell-Organismen. Gerade in diesen sich dynamisch ändernden Systemen in vivo ist die Perspektive schneller, paralleler FCS-Messungen von großer Bedeutung. In dieser Arbeit wird räumlich aufgelöste FCS am Beispiel einer EMCCD Kamera durchgeführt. Die Herangehensweise ist jedoch einfach übertragbar auf jede andere Art von zwei-dimensionalem Flächendetektor. Neuartige Flächendetektoren könnten in naher Zukunft verfügbar sein. Dann könnte räumlich aufgelöste Multiplex-FCS eine standardisierte Erweiterung zur klassischen ein-Fokus FCS werden.

Fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) signaling plays multiple inductive roles during development of vertebrates (Itoh 2007). Some Fgfs, such as Fgf8, are locally secreted and signal over a long range to provide positional information in the target tissue (Scholpp and Brand 2004). Fgf ligands signal in a receptor-dependent manner via tyrosine kinase receptors, four of which have been so far identified. Fgf8 signaling was shown to depend both on receptor activation as well as endocytosis. The specificity of Fgf ligands and receptors as well as the function of receptors in the control of the Fgf signaling range have been, however, largely unclear. In this study, we show that the putative Fgf8 receptor Fgfr1 is duplicated in zebrafish and that it acts redundantly in the formation of the posterior mesoderm. Also, in overexpression studies we confirm the notion that receptor endocytosis influences Fgf8 signaling range. Through TILLING mutant recovery and morpholino knockdown studies we also show that Fgfr2 is required for growth and skeletal development in zebrafish, whereas Fgfr4 is required for pectoral fin specification and growth.

Le sujet de cette thèse est l'étude quantitative du rôle du morphogène Fgf8 durant la somitogenèse en utilisant des perturbations spatio-temporelles de sa concentration dans un embryon de poisson zèbre en développement. Mon objectif était d'élucider le rôle que joue Fgf8 dans le modèle du «clock and wavefront» de la somitogenèse . A cet effet, j'ai développé des moyens optiques afin de perturber rapidement sa concentration dans un embryon vivant par un éclairage approprié. J’ai montré que le blocage du Fgf8 endogène (en utilisant un morpholino contre Fgf8) ou sa surexpression (en utilisant une approche de photo-activation développée dans le laboratoire d'accueil) affectaient la taille des somites observées dans un embryon de poisson zèbre à 24 hpf. Pour comprendre la raison de ce changement de taille des somitesj’ai construit un système de vidéomicroscopie à intervalle régulier qui m'a permis de suivre l'évolution parallèle de 20-30 embryons de poisson zèbre en temps réel. Après avoir comparé la période de la segmentation, la vitesse d'allongement de la queue, la vitesse de racourcissement du PSM et la distribution spatiale de MAPK phosphorylé, mes résultats montrent que la sur-expression globale de Fgf8 induit un retard subtil dans la période de segmentation et ralentit la vitesse de déplacement du front d'onde, qui est la cause principale de la variation de taille des somites. / The subject of this thesis is the quantitative study of the role of Fgf8 in somitogenesis using spatio-temporal perturbations of its concentration in a developing zebrafish embryo. My goal was to elucidate the role that Fgf8 plays in the clock and wavefront model of somitogenesis. For that purpose, I have developed optical means to quickly perturb its concentration in a live embryo by an appropriate illumination. I have shown that blocking endogenous Fgf8 (using a morpholino against Fgf8) or inducing over-expression of Fgf8 (using a photo-activable approach developed in the host lab) affected the size of somites observed at 24 hpf in a zebrafish embryo. To address the reason for this change in somite size, I have built a time-lapse microscopy set-up that allowed me to monitor the parallel development of 20-30 zebrafish embryos in real time. After comparing the period of segmentation, the velocity of tail elongation, the speed of PSM shortening, and the MAPK pattern of phosphorylation (the target of Fgf8), my results show that global over-expression of Fgf8 induces a subtle delay in the segmentation period and slows down the posterior moving wavefront velocity, which is the major cause of the change in somite size.

Les bourgeons gustatifs, les organes sensoriels du goût, sont localisés dans la cavité oropharyngéenne et ils sont conservés chez les vertébrés à mâchoire. Selon leur localisation, ils ont une origine épithéliale différente (rostralement, ectodermique et caudalement endodermique). Ils sont composés de trois types cellulaires distincts qui détectent les différentes qualités gustatives. Bien que l'induction et la différenciation cellulaire de ces organes sont bien étudiées, les mécanismes de la formation des organes intactes et fonctionnelles à partir de ces cellules restent inconnus.L'objectif de ce travail est de comprendre comment les cellules épithéliales se comportent in vivo afin de former des organes sensoriels gustatifs fonctionnels chez le poisson zèbre. En premier, une nouvelle lignée transgénique tg(fgf8a.enhancer:GFP) (gfp+) a été caractérisée. Elle est exprimée dans tous les types cellulaires du bourgeon au cours du développement. En deuxième, la vidéomicroscopie in vivo montre que les cellules gfp+ peuvent se différencier à des cellules sérotoninergiques (tph1b/5-HT) et elle se regroupent autour de ces dernières. En troisième, de façon surprenant, les cellules gfp+ sont motiles et elles peuvent se déplacer d'un bourgeon à l'autre. Enfin, l'ablation au laser multi-photon et l'analyse du mutant ascl1a-/- montrent que la cellule 5-HT est nécessaire au maintien des cellules gfp+ dans le bourgeon. Ce travail démontre pour la première fois que la formation des bourgeons gustatifs est un processus dynamique et que les cellules de cet organe sensoriel sont motiles. / Taste buds are the sensory organs of taste, located within the oropharyngeal cavity and conserved in jawed vertebrates. They derive from two epithelia, ectodermal rostrally and endodermal caudally, without showing any major physiological differences. They are multicellular organs, composed of three distinct cell types that detect different taste stimuli. Several signaling pathways, including Wnt/b-catenin, Shh, Bmp, Notch and Fgf are required in the induction and differentiation of taste bud cells. The current work aims at understanding how oropharyngeal epithelial cells that differentiate to taste bud cell types, do behave in vivo to form functional sensory organs. The zebrafish larva is used as model because of its genetics, optical clarity and accessibility of the oropharynx. Firstly, a new transgenic line tg(fgf8a.enhancer:GFP) is characterized with respect to taste bud development. It is expressed in epithelial and all differentiating taste bud cell types. Second, spinning disk timelapse shows that gfp+ cells form groups, one of them differentiates to the 5-HT cell and altogether correspond to a developing taste bud organ. Third, surprisingly, developing taste bud cells are motile between neighbouring taste bud organs. Finally, focal two-photon laser ablation of the 5-HT cell and analysis of ascl1a-/- that is devoid of 5-HT cells show that the 5-HT cell is required for the maintenance of gfp+ cells into the developing taste bud. This is the first evidence that taste bud formation is dynamic, developing cells are motile between taste buds and require one taste bud cell type (5-HT) for their maintenance into the organ.