Live-Cell Imaging: Cell Motility

Rhesus Monkey Kidney Epithelial Cells (LLC-MK2 Line)

The LLC-MK2 cell line was established from a pooled cell suspension prepared from the kidney tissue of six adult rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatto) in the mid-1950s. The cells exhibit epithelial morphology and produce the protease plasminogen activator that typically initiates the process of fibrinolysis by converting plasminogen to plasmin. LLC-MK2 cells have been utilized in the production of mumps vaccines and in the isolation of parainfluenza viruses, and are communly used as transfection hosts. The line demonstrates susceptibility to polioviruses 1, 2, and 3.

LLC-MK2 Live Cell Video No. 1 - Migrating LLC-MK2 cells crawl across the culture medium via the extension and contraction of broad, flattened lamellipodia. Choose a playback format that matches your connection speed: 56.6k (modem), or T1/Cable/DSL (RealPlayer), or T1/Cable/DSL (Windows Media), or download this video clip in MPEG format (12.0 hour time-lapse sequence; 36 seconds - 15.3 MB).

LLC-MK2 Live Cell Video No. 2 - The organelles in a cell are not strictly fixed in position, as can be observed during the high speed playback of this time-lapse sequence. Choose a playback format that matches your connection speed: 56.6k (modem), or T1/Cable/DSL (RealPlayer), or T1/Cable/DSL (Windows Media), or download this video clip in MPEG format (19.3 hour time-lapse sequence; 58 seconds - 24.6 MB).

LLC-MK2 Live Cell Video No. 3 - LLC-MK2 cells tend to organize themselves into small colonies in culture, which eventually can develop into continuous sheets similar to the epithelial sheets that occur in the animal body. Choose a playback format that matches your connection speed: 56.6k (modem), or T1/Cable/DSL (RealPlayer), or T1/Cable/DSL (Windows Media), or download this video clip in MPEG format (21.0 hour time-lapse sequence; 63 seconds - 26.7 MB).

LLC-MK2 Live Cell Video No. 4 - An intense flurry of vacuole formation can be observed in one of the LLC-MK2 rhesus monkey kidney epithelial cells. Choose a playback format that matches your connection speed: 56.6k (modem), or T1/Cable/DSL (RealPlayer), or T1/Cable/DSL (Windows Media), or download this video clip in MPEG format (21.0 hour time-lapse sequence; 63 seconds - 26.6 MB).

LLC-MK2 Live Cell Video No. 5 - Groups of the epithelial cells migrate together to fill in all of the available space in the imaging chamber. Choose a playback format that matches your connection speed: 56.6k (modem), or T1/Cable/DSL (RealPlayer), or T1/Cable/DSL (Windows Media), or download this video clip in MPEG format (24.6 hour time-lapse sequence; 74 seconds - 31.2 MB).

LLC-MK2 Live Cell Video No. 6 - The retraction fibers of several epithelial cells overlap the main colony, which appears as if it has become entwined in the sticky strands of a spider’s web. Choose a playback format that matches your connection speed: 56.6k (modem), or T1/Cable/DSL (RealPlayer), or T1/Cable/DSL (Windows Media), or download this video clip in MPEG format (9.6 hour time-lapse sequence; 29 seconds - 12.4 MB).

LLC-MK2 Live Cell Video No. 7 - The surface extensions of a LLC-MK2 cell are retracted and it appears to experience cytoplasmic shrinking, an early sign of cell death. Choose a playback format that matches your connection speed: 56.6k (modem), or T1/Cable/DSL (RealPlayer), or T1/Cable/DSL (Windows Media), or download this video clip in MPEG format (21.3 hour time-lapse sequence; 64 seconds - 27.1 MB).

LLC-MK2 Live Cell Video No. 8 - Observe a mononucleated cell divide erratically to produce a binucleated daughter cell and a mononucleated daughter cell. Choose a playback format that matches your connection speed: 56.6k (modem), or T1/Cable/DSL (RealPlayer), or T1/Cable/DSL (Windows Media), or download this video clip in MPEG format (23.0 hour time-lapse sequence; 69 seconds - 29.1 MB).