Mao, Y., Tournier, A.L., Bates, P.A., Gale, J.E., Tapon, N., Thompson, B.J. (2011). Planar polarization of the atypical myosin Dachs orients cell divisions in Drosophila.  Genes Dev. 25(2): 131--136.

FBrf0212813

Research paper

Tissues can grow in a particular direction by controlling the orientation of cell divisions. This phenomenon is evident in the developing Drosophila wing epithelium, where the tissue becomes elongated along the proximal-distal axis. We show that orientation of cell divisions in the wing requires planar polarization of an atypical myosin, Dachs. Our evidence suggests that Dachs constricts cell-cell junctions to alter the geometry of cell shapes at the apical surface, and that cell shape then determines the orientation of the mitotic spindle. Using a computational model of a growing epithelium, we show that polarized cell tension is sufficient to orient cell shapes, cell divisions, and tissue growth. Planar polarization of Dachs is ultimately oriented by long-range gradients emanating from compartment boundaries, and is therefore a mechanism linking these gradients with the control of tissue shape.

PMC3022259 (PMC) (EuropePMC)