Retraction of the Drosophila germ band requires cell-matrix interaction

Integrins and laminins are important mediators of cell-matrix interactions in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Here, we show that germ-band retraction in the Drosophila embryo, during which the tail end of the embryo retracts to its final posterior position, allows the investigation of cell spreading and lamellipodia formation in real time in vivo. We demonstrate that alpha1, 2 laminin and alphaPS3betaPS integrin are required for the spreading of a small group of cells of the amnioserosa epithelium over the tail end of the germ band. We further implicate a role for this spreading in the process of germ-band retraction.