Novel tissue-mechanics-guided cellular flows drive the formation of feather follicles

ABSTRACT: Complex tissue architecture is achieved through multiple rounds of morphological transitions. Here, we analyzed cellular flows and tissue mechanics during avian skin development by employing chicken and transgenic quail skin explant models. We demonstrate how novel cellular flows initiate chemo-mechanical circuits that guide epithelial protrusion, folding, invagination, and spatial cell fate specification. During initial feather bud formation, stiff dermal condensates protrude vertically from the locally softened epithelial sheet. As the bud elongates, it stretches the epithelial cells at the base, thus mechanically activating YAP, which causes the epithelial sheet to fold downward and form a stiff cylindrical wall that invaginates into the skin. This stiff epithelial tongue is essential f

SUBMITTER: Hans I-Chen Harn 

PROVIDER: S-SCDT-10_1038-S44318-026-00771-7 | biostudies-other |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other