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Multicellular rosette formation links planar cell polarity to tissue morphogenesis
J Todd Blankenship1, Stephanie T Backovic, Justina S P Sanny
1Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Developmental Cell
|October 3, 2006
Summary
Planar cell polarity in Drosophila embryos is established by sequential actin-myosin cable and adherens junction protein enrichment. This process drives the formation and resolution of directional multicellular rosettes, linking cell behavior to tissue morphogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Body axis elongation requires polarized cytoarchitecture for directional cell behavior.
- Establishing planar polarity is crucial for coordinating cellular activities during development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying planar polarity establishment in the Drosophila embryo.
- To understand how cellular behaviors contribute to tissue morphogenesis during axis elongation.
Main Methods:
- Observation of F-actin and adherens junction protein distribution.
- Analysis of cellular behavior during rosette formation and resolution.
- Genetic manipulation of patterning genes affecting axis elongation.
Main Results:
- Planar polarity is established via sequential enrichment of actin-myosin cables and adherens junctions.
- F-actin accumulation precedes junctional protein distribution, breaking planar symmetry.
- Multicellular rosettes form and resolve directionally, driven by coordinated cell behaviors.
- Actin-myosin structures align across cells, and junction proteins assemble stepwise during rosette resolution.
Conclusions:
- The sequential assembly of cellular structures links local cell interactions to global tissue reorganization.
- Patterning genes influence rosette formation dynamics, impacting overall morphogenesis.
- This study elucidates a novel mechanism for generating higher-order structures essential for developmental processes.
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