Abstract

Eukaryotic cilia and flagella provide motility to microorganisms, but also direct fluid flow inside animals during development and in mature physiology in areas from the reproductive system to the brain. The diversity in the biological function of these systems is reflected in their spatial organisation, which sets how cilia work as a collective.

Cilia are often grouped in sparsely distributed multiciliated cells (MCCs). We will address the fluid mechanics of this mosaic architecture in embryos of the frog Xenopus laevis. By combining live imaging and mathematical modelling we will show how cilia best shear the tissue at a finite but low area coverage, a result that mirrors findings for other sparse distributions such as cell receptors and leaf stomata.

We will also discuss the force applied by a bundle of cilia to the fluid and the cell, and how this may contribute to the self-organisation of this tissue during development.