Endocytic and recycling endosomes modulate cell shape changes and tissue behaviour during morphogenesis in Drosophila

Area of Science:

• Developmental Biology
• Cell Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• Tissue deformation is vital for organogenesis and organismal shaping.
• Cellular behaviors, modulated by subcellular activities, drive tissue deformations.
• Dorsal closure in Drosophila embryos involves coordinated tissue morphogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the roles of endocytosis and recycling in Drosophila embryonic dorsal closure.
• To understand how altering endocytosis and recycling impacts tissue morphogenesis at the cellular level.

Main Methods:

• Utilized dominant-negative forms of Rab5 (endocytosis) and Rab11 (recycling) in Drosophila embryos.
• Monitored the effects of altered endocytosis and recycling on single-cell behaviors and tissue morphogenesis.
• Analyzed differential requirements of endocytosis and recycling in the amnioserosa and epidermis during dorsal closure.

Main Results:

• Endocytosis (Rab5) is essential in the amnioserosa for apical constriction but not the epidermis.
• Recycling (Rab11) is required in the amnioserosa early on and in the epidermis for cell elongation.
• Endocytosis and recycling exhibit distinct requirements and differential usage across tissues during dorsal closure.

Conclusions:

• Endocytosis and recycling play differential roles in tissue morphogenesis during Drosophila dorsal closure.
• Modulating the balance between endocytosis and recycling can regulate cellular morphology and tissue deformations.
• These findings provide insights into the subcellular mechanisms governing developmental tissue shaping.