Forces shaping the Drosophila wing
More about Open Access at the CrickAuthors list
MC Diaz de la Loza BJ ThompsonAbstract
How genes encode the three-dimensional shape of tissues is a fascinating problem in biology. Pioneering genetic studies in the fruit fly Drosophila have identified key genes that control the generation of force patterns in the developing wing. Shortrange force patterns generated by planar polarised myosins can promote boundary formation and tissue elongation during the larval wing disc stage. Long-range force patterns are also crucial to shaping the wing during the pupal stage. We review the different ways in which both local and global force patterns can be generated, such as: patterned acto-myosin contractility, patterned anchorage to the extracellular matrix, and patterned tissue growth. In all cases, the balance between force, mass, and resistance explains how the resulting mechanical response produces particular tissue forms-a point underscored by the ability of computer simulations of tissue mechanics to reproduce such morphogenetic events.
Journal details
Journal Mechanisms of Development
Volume 144
Issue number Part A
Pages 23-32
Publication date
Full text links
Publisher website (DOI) 10.1016/j.mod.2016.10.003
Europe PubMed Central 27784612
Pubmed 27784612
Keywords
Related topics
Type of publication