The Drosophila micropyle as a system to study how epithelia build complex extracellular structures

Dynamic rearrangements of epithelial cells play central roles in shaping tissues and organs during development. There are also scenarios, however, in which epithelial cell movements synergize with the secretion of extracellular matrix to build rigid, acellular structures that persist long after the cells are gone. The formation of the Drosophila micropyle provides an elegant example of this epithelial craftsmanship. The micropyle is a cone-shaped projection of the eggshell through which the sperm will enter to fertilize the oocyte. Though simple on the surface, both the inner structure and construction of the micropyle are remarkably complex. In this review, I first provide an overview of egg development, focusing on the key events required to understand micropyle formation. I then describe the structure of the micropyle, the cellular contributions to its morphogenesis and some interesting open questions about this process. There is a brief discussion of micropyle formation in other insects and fish to highlight the potential for comparative studies. Finally, I discuss how new studies of micropyle formation could reveal general mechanisms that epithelia use to build complex extracellular structures. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Contemporary morphogenesis'.