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Fundamental physical cellular constraints drive self-organization of tissues

Sanchez-Gutierrez, D; Tozluoglu, M; Barry, JD; Pascual, A; Mao, Y; Escudero, LM; (2016) Fundamental physical cellular constraints drive self-organization of tissues. The EMBO Journal , 35 (1) pp. 77-88. 10.15252/embj.201592374. Green open access

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Abstract

Morphogenesis is driven by small cell shape changes that modulate tissue organization. Apical surfaces of proliferating epithelial sheets have been particularly well studied. Currently, it is accepted that a stereotyped distribution of cellular polygons is conserved in proliferating tissues among metazoans. In this work, we challenge these previous findings showing that diverse natural packed tissues have very different polygon distributions. We use Voronoi tessellations as a mathematical framework that predicts this diversity. We demonstrate that Voronoi tessellations and the very different tissues analysed share an overriding restriction: the frequency of polygon types correlates with the distribution of cell areas. By altering the balance of tensions and pressures within the packed tissues using disease, genetic or computer model perturbations, we show that as long as packed cells present a balance of forces within tissue, they will be under a physical constraint that limits its organization. Our discoveries establish a new framework to understand tissue architecture in development and disease.

Type: Article
Title: Fundamental physical cellular constraints drive self-organization of tissues
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.15252/embj.201592374
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.15252/embj.201592374
Language: English
Additional information: (C) 2015 The Authors
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > Lab for Molecular Cell Bio MRC-UCL
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1473835
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