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Application of Single-Cell Bioluminescent Imaging to Monitor Circadian Rhythms of Individual Plant Cells

  • Tomoaki Muranaka
  • Tokitaka OyamaEmail author
Protocol
First Online:
Part of the Methods in Molecular Biology book series (MIMB, volume 2081)

Abstract

The bioluminescent reporter system is a powerful tool for the long-term monitoring of gene expression because of its noninvasive nature. Furthermore, in combination with high-sensitive imaging technology, spatiotemporal analysis on regulation and heterogeneity in gene expression is possible. We developed a single-cell bioluminescent imaging system for plants through a transient gene transfection by particle bombardment. By applying this system to a duckweed species, we succeeded in monitoring circadian rhythms of individual cells in an intact plant for over a week. Here we describe methods for gene transfection by particle bombardment and single-cell bioluminescence monitoring by a high-sensitive camera. This technique provides a platform for characterizing gene expression patterns of individual cells in the same tissue.

Key words

Bioluminescence Circadian rhythm Duckweed Gene expression Single cell 
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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Center for Ecological ResearchKyoto UniversityOtsuJapan
  2. 2.Department of Botany, Graduate School of ScienceKyoto University, Kitashirakawa-oiwake-choKyotoJapan

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