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Cell volume changes contribute to epithelial morphogenesis in zebrafish Kupffer's vesicle
Agnik Dasgupta1, Matthias Merkel2, Madeline J Clark1
1Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, United States.
Elife
|January 30, 2018
Summary
Ion flux drives cell volume changes, influencing epithelial cell shape during tissue development. These morphological changes in Kupffer
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Epithelial morphogenesis
- Cellular biophysics
Background:
- Understanding how epithelial cells coordinate to form tissues is crucial.
- Kupffer's vesicle (KV) is a model system for studying epithelial morphogenesis.
- The interplay between cellular mechanisms and external forces shapes tissue architecture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms regulating cell volume and shape in Kupffer's vesicle.
- To determine the role of ion flux in epithelial cell behavior during morphogenesis.
- To decouple cell shape changes from lumen-generated forces in KV.
Main Methods:
- 3D analysis of single cells within Kupffer's vesicle.
- Experimental manipulation of ion flux.
- Vertex simulations of cell behavior.
- Analysis of KV with impaired lumen growth.
Main Results:
- Asymmetric cell volume and shape changes occur along the anteroposterior axis of KV.
- Blocking ion flux inhibits cell volume and shape changes.
- Cell shape changes are independent of lumen expansion.
- Asymmetric cell volume and shape changes persist even when lumen growth is impaired.
Conclusions:
- Ion flux is a key mediator of cell volume changes that drive asymmetric cell shape changes in KV.
- Epithelial morphology changes in KV are separable from lumen-generated forces.
- This study elucidates intrinsic cellular mechanisms governing epithelial morphogenesis.