Curvature feedback for repetitive tissue morphogenesis - Bridging algorithmic principles and self-regulatory systems.

Area of Science:

• Developmental Biology
• Biophysics
• Mechanobiology

Background:

• Organ development relies on complex morphogenetic processes driven by physical and genetic cues.
• Tissue-scale curvature is increasingly recognized as a critical instructive signal, bridging mechanical and biochemical pathways.
• Morphogenesis involves fundamental, repeating motifs that establish diverse organ architectures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the regulatory principles of tissue curvature in morphogenesis.
• To explore the dual role of curvature as an instructive signal and a dynamic cellular property.
• To provide insights into self-organized morphogenesis through curvature feedback.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on tissue curvature and morphogenesis.
• Analysis of cellular responses to lateral and topographical curvature.
• Examination of mechanobiological mechanisms of curvature sensing.
• Case study of murine lung epithelium development.

Main Results:

• Cells collectively respond to distinct curvature types (lateral and topographical).
• Mechanisms for cellular sensing of tissue curvature are elucidated.
• Curvature-driven feedback loops, via mechano-chemical couplings, ensure robust morphogenetic cycles.
• Murine lung epithelium development exemplifies repetitive terminal bifurcation driven by curvature.

Conclusions:

• Tissue curvature is a fundamental geometric cue integrating mechanical and chemical signals.
• Curvature feedback provides a framework for self-organized morphogenesis.
• Understanding curvature is key to explaining the robustness and recurrent properties of organ development.