The role of forces and the cellular responses to them as a mechanism for epithelial morphogenesis

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Cross-talk between moving cells and microenvironment as a basis of emerging order in multicellular systems
• Project/Area Number: 22111007
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Biological Sciences
• Research Institution: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: Hayashi Shigeo 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 多細胞システム形成研究センター, チームリーダー (60183092)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): HONDA HISAO 神戸大学, 医学研究科, 研究員 (10289118)
• Project Period (FY): 2010-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 細胞生物学 / 形態形成 / 上皮 / イメージング / 力学 / 遺伝学 / ショウジョウバエ / 細胞外基質

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We studied the mechanical basis of epithelial movement and its interaction with extracellular environment. Our main research focus is the tracheal system in the Drosophila embryo, a network of tubular epithelium used as a respiratory organ. Epithelium is stabilized by cell-cell adhesion and cell-matrix adhesion. Breaking this stability is essential for initiating morphogenetic movement. We found that prospective tracheal primordium is under negative tension (pressurized). Anisotropic redistribution of tissue tension and timely mitosis initiates local mechanical instability that leads to tissue invagination movement. We also studied the tube lumen size control and found that extracellular matrix in the luminal space coordinates random movement of individual tubule cells to form coherent tissue architecture.

Free Research Field

発生生物学