Independent apical and basal mechanical systems determine cell and tissue shape in theDrosophilawing disc

Abstract

How epithelial cells are organized in three dimensions during tissue morphogenesis is poorly understood. In the Drosophila wing imaginal disc, we examined the material factors and mechanical processes that determine the shape of epithelial cells. Since all cells are deposited on a basement membrane which influences the mechanics intracellularly, we reexamined the properties of this structure with fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy. We found regions Integrin-integrin adhesion Actomyosin contraction: cytoplasmic flows*

Epithelial organ shape is generated by patterned actomyosin contractility and maintained by the extracellular matrix

“…Hence, our study suggests another possible mechanism that is different than differential growth hypothesis [39] to drive fold formation along the orthogonal dorsalventral axis. Tissue shape formation by independent mechanical systems at the apical and basal side of the cells is also reported by a subsequent report posted during the review of this manuscript [50]. Perturbation studies that chemically dissolve collagen revealed that the ECM is essential to maintain the shape of the wing disc.…”