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Excess dNTPs Trigger Oscillatory Surface Flow in the Early Drosophila Embryo
Sayantan Dutta1, Nareg J-V Djabrayan2, Celia M Smits3
1Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey.
Biophysical Journal
|April 6, 2020
Summary
High levels of deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs) disrupt Drosophila embryonic development, causing abnormal cellular flows. This study reveals a link between metabolism and tissue mechanics during early embryogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cellular Mechanics
- Metabolic Regulation
Background:
- Early Drosophila development involves epithelial sheet formation and patterning.
- A quiescent period follows epithelialization, crucial for developmental signaling.
- High deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs) are known to affect nuclear division and transcription.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanical consequences of high dNTP levels during early Drosophila development.
- To characterize the nature of cellular flows induced by deregulated dNTPs.
- To explore the connection between metabolic state and tissue-scale mechanics.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Drosophila embryos with experimentally elevated dNTP levels.
- Application of tissue cartography and particle image velocimetry (PIV).
- Utilizing dimensionality reduction techniques to analyze flow patterns.
Main Results:
- High dNTP levels disrupt the quiescent period in early embryogenesis.
- Aberrant, oscillatory two-dimensional flows with spiral vortices emerge.
- These flows are low-dimensional, suggesting coordinated tissue-level behavior.
Conclusions:
- Elevated dNTPs trigger instabilities in the developing Drosophila epithelium.
- Deregulation of mechanical coupling between the epithelium and yolk causes aberrant flows.
- Metabolic processes significantly influence large-scale embryonic tissue mechanics.
