2024-25 Courses
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Independent Studies (3)
- Directed Reading in Biology
BIO 198 (Aut, Win, Spr) - Graduate Research
BIO 300 (Aut, Win, Spr) - Undergraduate Research
BIO 199 (Aut, Win, Spr)
- Directed Reading in Biology
All Publications
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Local and global changes in cell density induce reorganisation of 3D packing in a proliferating epithelium.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology
2024
Abstract
Tissue morphogenesis is intimately linked to the changes in shape and organisation of individual cells. In curved epithelia, cells can intercalate along their own apicobasal axes adopting a shape named "scutoid" that allows energy minimization in the tissue. Although several geometric and biophysical factors have been associated with this 3D reorganisation, the dynamic changes underlying scutoid formation in 3D epithelial packing remain poorly understood. Here we use live-imaging of the sea star embryo coupled with deep learning-based segmentation, to dissect the relative contributions of cell density, tissue compaction, and cell proliferation on epithelial architecture. We find that tissue compaction, which naturally occurs in the embryo, is necessary for the appearance of scutoids. Physical compression experiments identify cell density as the factor promoting scutoid formation at a global level. Finally, the comparison of the developing embryo with computational models indicates that the increase in the proportion of scutoids is directly associated with cell divisions. Our results suggest that apico-basal intercalations appearing just after mitosis may help accommodate the new cells within the tissue. We propose that proliferation in a compact epithelium induces 3D cell rearrangements during development.
View details for DOI 10.1101/2024.02.08.579268
View details for PubMedID 38370815