Roles of cell chirality in left-right asymmetric tissue morphogenesis

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: From molecules, cells to organs : trans-hierarchical logic for higher-order pattern and structures
• Project/Area Number: 22127004
• 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: Osaka University (2012-2014); Tokyo University of Science (2010-2011)
• Principal Investigator: MATSUNO Kenji 大阪大学, 理学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (60318227)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): ISHIKAWA Hiroyuki 千葉大学, 大学院理学研究科, 准教授 (00398819)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): YAMAKAWA Tomoko 大阪大学, 大学院理学研究科, 助教 (20645402)
• Project Period (FY): 2010-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 細胞キラリティ / 左右非対称性 / Ｉ型ミオシン / 上皮細胞 / バーテックスモデル / 組織変形 / ショウジョウバエ / 器官形成

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Internal organs of animals often show directional Left-Right (LR) asymmetry. The LR asymmetric structure of the embryonic hindgut is formed through a 90 degree counterclockwise rotation. Before this rotation, hindgut epithelial cells show chirality in their shape. The hindgut rotation is driven by the transition from chiral to achiral cells. In this study, we tried to understand the mechanism how cell chirality drives the hindgut rotation.
We developed a method to measure the mechanical force that drives the hindgut rotation. Based on the measurement using this method, we showed that the hindgut rotation is driven by the active force generated by the hindgut itself. During this rotation, the hindgut cells slides and changes their relative position to the direction that is predicted from the rotation of hindgut tube. Our genetic mosaic analysis showed that cell chirality is formed in individual cells, which reflects their intrinsic chiral property.

Free Research Field

発生生物学