Mechanical signals are key players in morphogenetic events.
Indeed mechanical signaling has been implicated in numerous cellular processes, such as migration or differentiation and number of studies, over the past years, had also pointed out the role of forces during morphogenesis.
Recently the team unveiled the implication of mechanical forces as initiators of fold formation, in the morphogenesis of the distal part of the drosophila leg. Furthermore they have shown that, fold -inducing forces are generated initially by apoptotic cells. Following this exiting discovery, the team now wants to focus on the basal consequences of fold formation. Indeed, ours model allow clear observation of the apical and the basal side of epithelial cells.
This offers the possibilities to study the role of basal attachment and basement membrane in the fold formation process which is particularly interesting since until now the folding process has been mainly described from an apical view.
Using confocal imaging on live and fixed tissue with fusion proteins, we manage to follow the dynamic of the basal side of the leg epithelium (ECM and adhesions). We were also able to access the role of these basal side components during leg morphogenesis thanks to the genetic tools available in drosophila.
Our results shown that the basal components of the leg disc epithelium are highly dynamic and that they are required during the fold formation process.
The aim of my work is to get one step further in the comprehension of mechanical forces and their influence during morphogenetic events such as fold formation and also get a “new” basal side view of this phenomenon.