Apoptotic Force and Tissue Dynamics During Drosophila Embryogenesis

2008/09/18 by Yusuke Toyama, Xomalin G. Peralta, Adrienne R. Wells +2 · 1 voice · 3 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Cellular Mechanics and Interactions #Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation #Hippo pathway signaling and YAP/TAZ

paper · doi:10.1126/science.1157052

openalex publication_date 2008/09/18 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

Understanding cell morphogenesis during metazoan development requires knowledge of how cells and the extracellular matrix produce and respond to forces. We investigated how apoptosis, which remodels tissue by eliminating supernumerary cells, also contributes forces to a tissue (the amnioserosa) that promotes cell-sheet fusion (dorsal closure) in the Drosophila embryo. We showed that expression in the amnioserosa of proteins that suppress or enhance apoptosis slows or speeds dorsal closure, respectively. These changes correlate with the forces produced by the amnioserosa and the rate of seam formation between the cell sheets (zipping), key processes that contribute to closure. This apoptotic force is used by the embryo to drive cell-sheet movements during development, a role not classically attributed to apoptosis.

Citations

• Targeted gene expression as a means of altering cell fates and generating dominant phenotypes
• Programmed cell death during Drosophila embryogenesis

Cited by

• Epithelial cell extrusion at a glance
• Apico-basal forces exerted by apoptotic cells drive epithelium folding
• DeXtrusion: automatic recognition of epithelial cell extrusion through machine learning in vivo

Discussions

• 📄 Toyama et al., 2008 doi.org/10.1126/scie... Eliminated cells generate force: apoptotic cells during Drosophila development generate forces that contribute to tissue dynamics and morphogenesis, link [bsky, 3 points, 2 comments]

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