The subcellular mechanics of tissue morphogenesis

The subcellular mechanics of tissue morphogenesis

by
Dr. Thomas Lecuit
IBDML, France
Friday, September 24, 2010
at 5:00 p.m.
In the Ground Floor Lecture Hall (LH1)
ALL ARE WELCOME
Note: Vehicle leaves for NCBS at 4.15 pm from the parking bay in front of the main library in IISc  and at 6.15 pm from NCBS to IISc
Abstract
Cells and tissues display remarkable robustness, i.e. the ability to keep a polarized or vectorial organization, important for their physiological role. Meanwhile epithelia show tremendous plasticity, during embryonic development and organ regeneration, i.e. the capacity to adapt to intrinsic or extrinsic signals or perturbations. We are interested in deciphering the basic principles of cell and tissue organization and dynamics with a special focus on the problem of how robustness and plasticity are jointly regulated. The main problem I will discuss is an example of tissue plasticity manifested in embryonic tissues. I will present our current research characterizing how the spatial distribution of tension in cells controls locally stereotyped cell shape changes and how these in turn are coordinated at the tissue level to produce tissue morphogenesis.

We will discuss how fluctuations in contractile activity are spatially organized to yield robust and reproducible symmetry breaking in cell dynamics. The underlying theme will be to understand how tissue level dynamics emerges from subcellular mechanics.

Host: Prof. Satyajit Mayor ( mayor@ncbs.res.in)
 
Please join for high tea and discussions at the Hortus Malabaricus Gardens.