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Theoretical & Physical Biology Group

Collective cell motility and tissue formation during development

Animal development is a fascinating, complex process that involves a detailed genetic plan and the recruitment of a myriad of molecules for signaling. At an intermediate level, many cells interact through mechano-chemical processes that ultimately give rise to remarkable patterns at the tissue level. The motion of cell collectives plays a central role in tissue formation. In this context, the 'epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition' (EMT) is an essential process by which non-migratory epithelial cells become motile (mesenchymal). This process (and the reverse process, MET) helps sculpt tissues by locally 'fluidizing' them.
Previously we showed that EMT represents an order-to-disorder transition (i.e., correlated to random cell velocities), maintaining body-axis symmetry during vertebrate tail formation. EMT may also represent a transition from 'solid-like' to 'fluid-like' behavior in tissue. In general, we are interested to know how changes in cellular properties (such as cell-cell adhesion, cortical tension, etc.) lead to such transitions at a tissue level by developing computational models of tissues.

We are also interested to understand how cells integrate multiple guidance cues during migration. As a model system, we are currently studying the chemotactic cell migration in a fruit-fly egg chamber, collaborating with developmental biologists.

Main papers on this topic

  1. Fibronectin is a smart adhesive that both influences and responds to the mechanics of early spinal column development, E Guillon, D Das, D Jülich, AR Hassan, H Geller, S Holley, Elife 9, 2020.

  2. Organization of embryonic morphogenesis via mechanical information, D Das, D Jülich, J Schwendinger-Schreck et. al., Developmental cell 49, 2019.

  3. Patterned disordered cell motion ensures vertebral column symmetry, D Das, V Chatti, T Emonet, SA Holley, Developmental cell 42, 2017.

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