Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Cell Polarization by Rho Proteins

Cell Polarization by Rho Proteins

Cell polarity is the asymmetric distribution of cellular and membrane components, making one side of the cell different from the other. This polarity is essential to many processes such as embryogenesis, axon migration, glucose transport across epithelial cells, and directional cell migration. A migrating cell responds to intracellular or extracellular signals via molecular cascades that reorganize the actin cytoskeleton to establish this polarity. In these cells, the Rho family proteins Cdc42,...

Polarity of the Cytoskeleton

Polarity of the Cytoskeleton

The intrinsic polarity of cells can be primarily attributed to two factors- i) the asymmetric accumulation of mobile components such are regulatory molecules and subcellular components across the cell and ii) the orientation of polar cytoskeletal filaments that make up the cytoskeletal networks, specifically microfilaments, and microtubules arranged along the axis of polarity. Interactions between the cytoskeletal filaments are crucial for the establishment and maintenance of the polar nature...

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

A migrating cell changes its shape during the cyclic events of attachment and detachment from the substratum and repositions the cell organelles correspondingly. These complex events are orchestrated by the dynamic cytoskeletal network comprising actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Cytoskeletal crosstalk — the direct and indirect communication between the different components — is crucial for this coordination. Direct communication involves various linker proteins that...

Cell Motility through Blebbing

Cell Motility through Blebbing

Blebs are a type of membrane protrusion formed by the internal hydrostatic pressure of the cytoplasm. Blebs are observed in several cell types, including fibroblasts, immune cells, and single-celled organisms like the amoeba. The primary function of blebs is cell locomotion and apoptosis, but they are also found during necrosis and cell division. The life cycle of a bleb comprises an initiation phase followed by the expansion and retraction phases.
Blebbing Through the Matrix
In multicellular...

Determining the Plane of Cell Division

Determining the Plane of Cell Division

Positioning the cell division plane is a critical step during development and cell differentiation, particularly during mitosis when the plane is essential for determining the size of the two daughter cells. The cell division plane is perpendicular to the plane of chromosome segregation, but different types of organisms have different cell division mechanisms to suit their morphology and function.
Animal cells
In animal cells, the cleavage furrow forms along the plane of cell division starting...

Cell Migration

Cell Migration

Cell migration, the process by which cells move from one location to another, is essential for the proper development and viability of organisms throughout their life. When cells are not able to migrate properly to their ordained locations, various disorders may occur. For example, disruption in cell migration causes chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Genome-wide cline analysis identifies new locus contributing to a barrier to gene flow across an Antirrhinum hybrid zone.

PLoS genetics·2026

Same author

Secure AI-assisted angoff standard-setting for single best answer questions: A non-inferiority validation study.

Medical teacher·2026

Same author

Synthetic pectin-cellulose nanofiber capsule recapitulates the mechanical properties of a regenerating plant cell wall.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Same author

Cell geometry and mechanical stress coordinate stomatal division orientation.

Cell reports·2026

Same author

Reticulate leaf venation in Pilea peperomioides is a Voronoi diagram.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Patient-derived pediatric brain tumor orthotopic xenografts and tumor organoids faithfully recapitulate primary tumors.

Science advances·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

Mapping the Emergent Spatial Organization of Mammalian Cells using Micropatterns and Quantitative Imaging

Mapping the Emergent Spatial Organization of Mammalian Cells using Micropatterns and Quantitative Imaging

Published on: April 30, 2019

Generation of spatial patterns through cell polarity switching.

Sarah Robinson¹, Pierre Barbier de Reuille, Jordi Chan

¹John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK.

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|September 10, 2011

Summary

Plant development relies on precise spatial patterns. This study reveals how maintaining the SPEECHLESS (SPCH) transcription factor in daughter cells controls stomatal spacing, guiding tissue patterning through polarity switching.

More Related Videos

The C. elegans Intestine As a Model for Intercellular Lumen Morphogenesis and In Vivo Polarized Membrane Biogenesis at the Single-cell Level: Labeling by Antibody Staining, RNAi Loss-of-function Analysis and Imaging

The C. elegans Intestine As a Model for Intercellular Lumen Morphogenesis and In Vivo Polarized Membrane Biogenesis at the Single-cell Level: Labeling by Antibody Staining, RNAi Loss-of-function Analysis and Imaging

Published on: October 3, 2017

Improved Visualization and Quantitative Analysis of Drug Effects Using Micropatterned Cells

Improved Visualization and Quantitative Analysis of Drug Effects Using Micropatterned Cells

Published on: December 2, 2010

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 29, 2026

Mapping the Emergent Spatial Organization of Mammalian Cells using Micropatterns and Quantitative Imaging

Mapping the Emergent Spatial Organization of Mammalian Cells using Micropatterns and Quantitative Imaging

Published on: April 30, 2019

The C. elegans Intestine As a Model for Intercellular Lumen Morphogenesis and In Vivo Polarized Membrane Biogenesis at the Single-cell Level: Labeling by Antibody Staining, RNAi Loss-of-function Analysis and Imaging

The C. elegans Intestine As a Model for Intercellular Lumen Morphogenesis and In Vivo Polarized Membrane Biogenesis at the Single-cell Level: Labeling by Antibody Staining, RNAi Loss-of-function Analysis and Imaging

Published on: October 3, 2017

Improved Visualization and Quantitative Analysis of Drug Effects Using Micropatterned Cells

Improved Visualization and Quantitative Analysis of Drug Effects Using Micropatterned Cells

Published on: December 2, 2010

Area of Science:

Developmental biology
Plant science
Cell biology

Background:

Understanding dynamic spatial patterns in proliferating tissues is challenging due to complex cell interactions.
Stomatal spacing in plants provides a model system as cells do not rearrange during development.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the mechanisms governing stomatal spacing and developmental patterning in plants.
To investigate the role of the SPEECHLESS (SPCH) transcription factor in stem cell behavior and lineage progression.

Main Methods:

Longitudinal tracking of cell lineages and gene activity.
Computational modeling of cell division and polarity dynamics.
Experimental validation of model predictions for polarity determinants like BASL.

Main Results:

Limited stem cell behavior in stomatal precursors is dependent on SPEECHLESS (SPCH) maintenance in single daughter cells.
A postmitotic polarity-switching mechanism explains stereotypical stomatal lineage formation.
The model accurately predicts the localization of the BASL polarity determinant across multiple cell divisions.

Conclusions:

The study reveals a novel mechanism for generating spatial patterns in plant tissues.
Dynamic, two-way interactions between stem cells and their environment are crucial for developmental patterning.
Findings offer insights into the fundamental principles of cell-fate determination and tissue organization.