Spatial patterning of contractility by a self-organized mechanogen activity gradient underlies Drosophila gastrulation.

ABSTRACT: During development cell deformations are spatially organized, however, how cellular mechanics is spatially controlled is unclear. Spatial control of cell identity often determines local cellular mechanics in a two-tiered mechanism. Theoretical studies also proposed that molecular gradients, so called "mechanogens", spatially control mechanics. We report evidence of a similar mechanism required for Drosophila gastrulation. We show that the GPCR ligand Fog, expressed in the posterior endoderm, diffuses and acts in a concentration-dependent manner to activate actomyosin contractility at a distance during a wave of tissue invagination. While Fog is uniformly distributed in the extracellular space, it forms a surface-bound gradient that recruits Myosin-II via receptor oligomerization. This acti

SUBMITTER: Mundhe G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12913813 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature