PhOTO zebrafish and primed conversion: advancing the mechanistic view of development and disease

A set of transgenic zebrafish lines, called PhOTO (Photoconvertible Optical Tracking Of…), were previously introduced and have wide applicability for accurate cell tracking during highly dynamic events, including embryo development, tissue regeneration, and cancer/disease progression. Cell shapes, interactions, divisions, and dynamics can be monitored by employing the photoconvertible fluorescent protein Dendra2 and the blue fluorescent protein Cerulean as compartment-specific labels of the nucleus and the plasma membrane. The combination of PhOTO zebrafish with confined primed conversion, a recently introduced axially confined photoconversion method, enables nontoxic, instantaneous, and precise cell tracking during any stage of the life cycle of zebrafish. The implementation of advanced imaging platforms and smart bioimaging software to perform high-fidelity lineage tracing of primed converted PhOTO zebrafish will greatly benefit the goal of acquiring a refined mechanistic view of development and disease.