%0 Journal Article
%T A Lifeact-EGFP quail for studying actin dynamics in vivo.
%A Alvarez YD
%A van der Spuy M
%A Wang JX
%A Noordstra I
%A Tan SZ
%A Carroll M
%A Yap AS
%A Serralbo O
%A White MD
%J J Cell Biol
%V 223
%N 9
%D 2024 Sep 2
%M 38913324
%F 8.077
%R 10.1083/jcb.202404066
%X Here, we report the generation of a transgenic Lifeact-EGFP quail line for the investigation of actin organization and dynamics during morphogenesis in vivo. This transgenic avian line allows for the high-resolution visualization of actin structures within the living embryo, from the subcellular filaments that guide cell shape to the supracellular assemblies that coordinate movements across tissues. The unique suitability of avian embryos to live imaging facilitates the investigation of previously intractable processes during embryogenesis. Using high-resolution live imaging approaches, we present the dynamic behaviors and morphologies of cellular protrusions in different tissue contexts. Furthermore, through the integration of live imaging with computational segmentation, we visualize cells undergoing apical constriction and large-scale actin structures such as multicellular rosettes within the neuroepithelium. These findings not only enhance our understanding of tissue morphogenesis but also demonstrate the utility of the Lifeact-EGFP transgenic quail as a new model system for live in vivo investigations of the actin cytoskeleton.