Research Overview:

During morphogenesis individual cells self-assemble into complex tissues and organs with highly specialized forms and functions. Tissue morphogenesis is orchestrated via physical forces that are generated within cells by the cytoskeleton and that are transmitted through adhesion molecules within and between neighbouring cells. The best-studied cytoskeletal components are actin together with myosin, which forms contractile arrays across cells that are key constituents of different morphogenetic processes ranging from epithelial folding to cell intercalation and tissue convergence. Despite growing evidence that MT can act in a similar manner like actin to generate forces in cells, relatively little is known about how coupling of MT-based forces at epithelial intercellular junctions contributes to the cell mechanics. The ultimate goal of my lab is to unravel the role of the MT cytoskeleton as a force-generator during tissue development. We are interested in the following questions that are central to understand the role of MT cytoskeleton in tissue morphogenesis:

(I) How the structural and mechanical properties of MTs are regulated?

(II) How does MT mechanics contribute to shape changes and cell rearrangements during tissue remodeling?

(III) What is the molecular mechanism that integrates and coordinates MT forces at adherens junctions across a tissue?