AI Article Synopsis
- Current research in morphogenesis focuses more on molecular processes rather than the physical constraints proposed by early theorist d'Arcy Thompson.
- In Ciona intestinalis, the arrangement of follicular cells over the oocyte suggests that their geometrical positioning influences apoptosis, with some cells acting as "master" regulators for adjacent cells.
- This understanding of apoptosis control could provide insights into embryonic development in vertebrates and inform new cancer treatment strategies.
Article Abstract
The laws that drive morphogenesis remain a major biological question. Today's views emphasize molecular autonomous processes rather than physical and mechanical constraints proposed by d'Arcy Thompson earlier on. In Ciona intestinalis oocyte, follicular cells formed by two distinct sets of geometrically-ordered epithelial monolayers positioned over the egg control apoptosis, implying that physically-predetermined shapes play a role in the control of cell determinism. In follicular cells ideally positioned over the spherical geometry of the egg, a drastic, optimized and polarized inward apoptosis sequence directly results from this positioning, suggesting the existence of some apoptotic master cells which control the destiny of neighboring cells. This concept could shed a new light on the origin of massive apoptosis phases that take place during embryogenesis in vertebrates (e.g., cavitation, inter-digitation). It could also be applied to specific therapeutic strategies to fight cancer.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/medsci/2013294015 | DOI Listing |
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