Cell shape changes during tissue morphogenesis

Timothy Saunders (U Warwick)

Nov 17. 2022, 14:45 — 15:30

On a curved surface, epithelial cells  can adapt to geometric constraints by tilting and by exchanging their neighbours from apical to basal sides, known as an apicobasal T1 (AB-T1) transition. The relationship between cell tilt, AB-T1 transitions, and tissue curvature still lacks a unified understanding. Here, we propose a general framework for cell packing in curved environments and explain the formation of AB-T1 transitions under different conditions. We find that steep curvature gradients can lead to cell tilting and induce AB-T1 transitions. Conversely, large curvature anisotropy can drive AB-T1 transitions by hydrostatic pressure. The two mechanisms compete to determine the impact of tissue geometry and mechanics on optimised cell rearrangements in 3D.

Further Information
Venue:
ESI Boltzmann Lecture Hall
Associated Event:
Mathematical Methods for the Study of Self-organization in the Biological Sciences (Thematic Programme)
Organizer(s):
Pierre Degond (IMT, Toulouse)
Marie Doumic (Sorbonne U, Paris)
Anna Kicheva (ISTA, Klosterneuburg)
Sara Merino-Aceituno (U of Vienna)
Christian Schmeiser (U of Vienna)