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Autonomy and non-autonomy in Drosophila mesoderm determination and morphogenesis
Development (Cambridge, England)
|April 1, 1994
Summary
Drosophila mesoderm invagination is driven by individual cells following their developmental programs, not large-scale cell interactions. Small cell groups can invaginate autonomously, with shape influenced by their local environment.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Mesoderm invagination is a critical morphogenetic event in Drosophila development.
- This process involves complex cell shape changes.
- Previous understanding of cell interaction requirements was limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of cell-cell interactions in Drosophila mesoderm invagination.
- To determine if mesodermal cell shape changes are autonomous or dependent on neighbors.
- To elucidate the factors initiating and guiding ventral furrow formation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized mosaic analysis with wild-type and mutant Drosophila cells.
- Performed cytoplasmic transplantation experiments.
- Observed cell behavior and gene expression patterns.
Main Results:
- Mesodermal invagination does not require extensive cell-cell interactions; small cell patches can invaginate independently.
- Cell shape initiation is locally autonomous, but final shape is influenced by the cellular environment.
- Ectopic expression of mesodermal genes induces invagination, supporting a cell-autonomous program.
- Gene expression at the mesoderm border is induced by cell-cell apposition.
Conclusions:
- Ventral furrow formation results from prospective mesodermal cells executing their individual developmental programs.
- Local cellular environment and cell-autonomous genetic programs interplay in shaping mesodermal cells.
- Cell-cell apposition at the mesoderm boundary is crucial for inducing specific gene expression.