Two-fluid dynamics and micron-thin boundary layers shape cytoplasmic flows in early Drosophila embryos.

ABSTRACT: Cytoplasmic flows are widely emerging as key functional players in development. In early Drosophila embryos, flows drive the spreading of nuclei across the embryo. Here, we combine hydrodynamic modeling with quantitative imaging to develop a two-fluid model that features an active actomyosin gel and a passive viscous cytosol. Gel contractility is controlled by the cell cycle oscillator, the two fluids being coupled by friction. In addition to recapitulating experimental flow patterns, our model explains observations that remained elusive and makes a series of predictions. First, the model captures the vorticity of cytosolic flows, which highlights deviations from Stokes' flow that were observed experimentally but remained unexplained. Second, the model reveals strong differences in

SUBMITTER: Hernandez-Lopez C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10622894 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature