Time-Lapse Fluorescence Microscopy of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in Meiosis

Movements are implicit in the chromosome behaviors of bouquet formation, pairing and synapsis during meiotic prophase. In S. cerevisiae , the positions of chromosomes, specific structures, and individual chromosomal loci marked by fluorescent fusion proteins are easily visualized in living cells. Time-lapse analyses have revealed rapid and varied chromosome movements throughout meiotic prophase. To facilitate the analysis of these movements, we have developed a simple, inexpensive, and efficient method to prepare sporulating cells for fluorescence microscopy. This method produces a monolayer of cells that progress from meiosis through spore formation, allows visualization of hundreds of cells in a single high-resolution frame and is suitable for most methods of fluorescence microscopy.