MorphoGraphX

MorphoGraphX processes and visualizes three-dimensional confocal microscopy images of plant tissues to extract surface geometry, segment cells over time, and quantify spatial and temporal protein expression for studying plant morphogenesis.

Key Features:

• 3D confocal image processing: Processes confocal microscopy images of plant tissues labeled with fluorescent probes that highlight cell walls and plasma membranes.
• Submicron surface reconstruction: Reconstructs surface geometry and cellular shapes with submicron precision.
• Shoot apex geometry extraction: Extracts detailed surface geometry and cellular shapes specifically from the plant shoot apex.
• Temporal cell segmentation: Segments cells across consecutive time points to enable tracking of cell proliferation and differentiation.
• Growth map generation: Creates precise growth maps that quantify developmental dynamics within plant tissues.
• Cellular protein expression quantification: Quantifies spatial and temporal protein expression from fluorescently tagged proteins at the cellular level.

Scientific Applications:

• Plant developmental biology: Analysis of shoot apex morphogenesis and cellular-level growth dynamics in vivo using confocal microscopy data.
• Growth and morphogenesis mapping: Quantitative mapping of cell proliferation, differentiation, and overall morphogenesis through temporal segmentation and growth maps.
• Protein localization and signaling studies: Spatial and temporal quantification of fluorescently tagged proteins to study gene function and signal transduction pathways.
• Cellular response analysis: Measurement of cellular responses within tissues via temporal protein expression and cell shape changes.

Methodology:

Visualization and processing of 3D datasets, extraction of surface geometry and cellular shapes, cell segmentation across consecutive time points, generation of growth maps, and spatial-temporal quantification of protein expression.