Mechanometabolic feedback loops in limb morphogenesis

During multicellular morphogenesis, tissues exhibit mechanical behaviors akin to non-living materials. However, unlike their inert counterparts molded only by external forces, tissues self- assemble by generating - and adapting to - internal forces. This active behavior has energetic costs but also requires the synthesis of cell and tissue building blocks, including the extracellular matrix. Metabolism, in both its catabolic and anabolic function, is thus at the core of morphogenesis. Current research emphasizes a bidirectional link: metabolic activity regulates tissue mechanics, and, conversely, tissue mechanics influences cellular metabolism. In this project, we aim to identify mechanometabolic feedback loops that are relevant for multicellular morphogenesis using limb outgrowth as a tractable model system.

Models: chicken, mouse

Collaborators

Nathalie Agar, Harvard Medical School, USA.
Clement Bodineau, Harvard Medical School, USA.
Malcolm Logan, King’s College London, UK.