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Updated: Jun 27, 2025

Imaging Cell Shape Change in Living Drosophila Embryos
Published on: March 30, 2011
α-Spectrin regulates cell shape changes during disassembly of microtubule-driven protrusions in Drosophila wings
Ngan Vi Tran1, Martti P Montanari2, Dmitri Lubenets1
1Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
Abstract:
The dynamics of microtubule-mediated protrusions, termed Interplanar Amida Network (IPAN) in Drosophila pupal wing, involve cell shape changes. The molecular mechanisms underlying these processes are yet to be fully understood. This study delineates the stages of cell shape alterations during the disassembly of microtubule protrusions and underscores the pivotal role of α-Spectrin in driving these changes by regulating both the microtubule and actomyosin networks. Our findings also demonstrate that α-Spectrin is required for the apical relaxation of wing epithelia during protrusion disassembly, indicating its substantial contribution to the robustness of 3D tissue morphogenesis.
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