Abstract

Cells and tissues acquire their shape and function during embryonic development. While the blueprint for tissue design is encoded in the genome, the execution of this program relies on the mechanical progression of coordinated behaviors at molecular, cellular, and tissue scales. Thus, understanding the emergence of biomechanical features and their functions in morphogenesis across multiple scales is fundamental to elucidating normal development and the mechanisms underlying congenital malformation.

My research has focused on convergent extension (CE), a conserved collective cell movement that elongates the head-to-tail body axis and several organ systems, including the neural tube, heart, and kidney. Recent studies have identified novel biomechanical features across multiple scales crucial to CE. Our data suggest that cellular forces propagate in a polarized manner, driving the propagation of coordinated cell movement. This multiscale mechanical linkage generates a synergistic effect, promoting efficient and robust body axis elongation. Conversely, subtle biomechanical compromises at the subcellular level can escalate over time and space, ultimately leading to axis elongation failure in the entire organism.

online TUESDAY

Zoom link: Join Zoom Meeting https://cam-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/87939943699 Meeting ID: 879 3994 3699