From in vivo to in vitro study of cell intercalation – Inter-s-cal

A fundamental property of embryonic tissues is their remarkable ability to actively remodel and migrate, while remaining cohesive entities. Central to this plasticity is intercalation, i.e. the movement of cells relative to their neighbours, but the underlying mechanisms are still ill-defined, in particular in the case of mesenchymal-type tissues. We use the classic case of mesoderm migration during Xenopus gastrulation to explore this process. We have shown that it is due to developmental regulation of cell contractility, and we have identified essential molecular regulators. We will exploit the possibility to explant and study this tissue in vitro to perform an in-depth investigation of the cellular basis of intercalation. For this purpose, we will use a unique combination of molecular manipulations, high resolution live imaging and force measurements, complemented with computer simulation of the biophysical properties of the system.