Cell intercalation from top to bottom.

Area of Science:

• Developmental Biology
• Cell Biology
• Morphogenesis

Background:

• Animal body plan formation relies on precise cell movements and fate specification.
• Cell intercalation, a key morphogenetic process, reshapes tissues by altering cell arrangements.
• Understanding the molecular mechanisms of cell intercalation is crucial for developmental biology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the critical cellular behaviors and molecular mechanisms underlying cell intercalation.
• To clarify the distinct steps in cell polarization during both mediolateral and radial intercalation.
• To identify the interplay of adhesion, cytoskeletal dynamics, and planar cell polarity in driving cell rearrangement.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of cell behaviors during tissue elongation and spreading.
• Investigation of cell polarization events in different intercalation contexts.
• Examination of the roles of cell adhesion, cytoskeletal forces, and planar cell polarity signaling.

Main Results:

• Key steps in the polarization of mediolaterally and radially intercalating cells have been identified.
• Cell intercalation requires specific combinations of adhesive changes and cytoskeletal rearrangements.
• Planar cell polarity signaling regulates intercalation processes in certain contexts.

Conclusions:

• Cell intercalation employs a conserved set of cellular behaviors with context-specific molecular underpinnings.
• Distinct mechanisms involving cell adhesion, cytoskeletal dynamics, and planar cell polarity orchestrate tissue shaping.
• These findings advance our understanding of morphogenesis and developmental processes.