Priciples of Mesenchymal Morphogenesis

Understanding embryo development is crucial for gaining insights into evolution and disease mechanisms. While recent research has extensively investigated how 2D cell sheets (epithelia) influence the shaping of embryonic surfaces, there is a renewed focus on 3D mesenchymal tissues. These tissues, deeper within the embryo, lack a planar architecture and are rich in extracellular matrix (ECM). Our goal is to uncover mesenchymal morphogenesis principles, focusing on vertebrate axis elongation. Specifically, we want to understand how tissue transitions between fluid and solid states occur, including their dependence on molecular signals and physicochemical properties. Furthermore, we aim to create a mechanical model to elucidate the interactions between mesenchymal cells and ECM.

Models: zebrafish, mouse, chicken

Collaborators:

Gabe Galea, University College London, UK.
Nick Greene, University College London, UK.
Lisa Manning, Syracuse University, USA.
Friedhelm Serwane, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, DE.