2025/12/05 by Alexandre Carayon, Helen Strutt, David Strutt · 1 voice
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Wnt/β-catenin signaling in development and cancer #Microtubule and mitosis dynamics #Hippo pathway signaling and YAP/TAZ
paper · doi:10.7554/elife.107947.2
openalex created_date 2025/12/05 · openalex publication_date 2025/12/05 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/26
In developing epithelia, cells become planar polarised through asymmetric localisation of the core planar polarity proteins to opposite cell membranes, where they form stable intercellular complexes. Current models differ regarding the signalling mechanisms required for core protein polarisation. Here, we investigate the existence of cell-intrinsic cell-scale signalling in vivo in the Drosophila pupal wing. We use conditional and restrictive expression tools to spatiotemporally manipulate core protein activity, combined with quantitative measurement of core protein distribution, polarity, and stability. Our results provide evidence for a robust cell-scale signal, while arguing against mechanisms that depend on depletion of a limited pool of a core protein or polarised transport of core proteins on microtubules. Furthermore, we show that polarity propagation across a tissue is hard, highlighting the strong intrinsic capacity of individual cells to establish and maintain planar polarity.