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Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Optogenetic Inhibition of Rho1-Mediated Actomyosin Contractility Coupled with Measurement of Epithelial Tension in Drosophila Embryos
Published on: April 14, 2023
FGF signaling regulates cytoskeletal remodeling during epithelial morphogenesis
1Laboratory for Sensory Development, RIKEN Kobe Institute, Center for Developmental Biology, 2-2-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 640-0047, Japan.
Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling coordinates inner ear development by triggering cytoskeletal changes. This process involves myosin II activation, leading to actin redistribution and shaping the developing ear.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Tissue shape changes during development are driven by cytoskeletal remodeling.
- Coordinated cellular behaviors are essential for morphogenesis, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the extrinsic signals and molecular mechanisms coordinating inner ear morphogenesis.
- To elucidate the role of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling in regulating cytoskeletal dynamics during ear development.
Main Methods:
- Utilized specific inhibitors to probe signaling pathways.
- Investigated the role of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling and its downstream effectors.
- Analyzed cytoskeletal dynamics, including actin and myosin II activity.
Main Results:
- Local fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling activates a phosphorylation cascade involving phospholipase Cgamma.
- This cascade activates basal myosin II, leading to noncanonical depletion of actin filaments.
- Apical actin enrichment, driven by FGF signaling, is crucial for inner ear shape change.
Conclusions:
- Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling directly controls cytoskeletal rearrangements essential for inner ear morphogenesis.
- The identified signaling pathway provides a mechanism for coordinating cell behavior during epithelial tissue shaping.
- This system may represent a generalizable mechanism for morphogenesis in other epithelial tissues.
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