High-resolution Live Cell Imaging of the Yeast Life Cycle

Layout, operation, and results of a microfluidic device, which allows for anaerobic and aerobic cultivation of yeast cells over extended time (>3 days) are presented. The use of this device in combination with automated image analysis software and multiple fluorescence reporters (>4 fluorescence protein per strain) allows for studying timing and coherence of morphological features, the cell-cycle timing, stress-pathway activation, and the occurrence of protein aggregates during the whole cell life cycle. Moreover, the device enables to investigate the inheritance of such features over several cell generations under different metabolic conditions.