title: Microtubule organization is determined by the shape of epithelial cells.
abstract: Interphase microtubule organization is critical for cell function and tissue architecture. In general, physical mechanisms are sufficient to drive microtubule organization in single cells, whereas cells within tissues are thought to utilize signalling mechanisms. By improving the imaging and quantitation of microtubule alignment within developing Drosophila embryos, here we demonstrate that microtubule alignment underneath the apical surface of epithelial cells follows cell shape. During development, epidermal cell elongation and microtubule alignment occur simultaneously, but by perturbing cell shape, we discover that microtubule organization responds to cell shape, rather than the converse. A simple set of microtubule behaviour rules is sufficient for a computer model to mimic the observed responses to changes in cell surface geometry. Moreover, we show that microtubules colliding with cell boundaries zip-up or depolymerize in an angle-dependent manner, as predicted by the model. Finally, we show microtubule alignment responds to cell shape in diverse epithelia.
authors: Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, and the Gurdon Institute, The University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK.
authors: Juan Manuel
authors: JM
authors: Gomez
authors: School of Mathematics and Maxwell Institute for Mathematical Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, UK.
authors: Lyubov
authors: L
authors: Chumakova
authors: Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, and the Gurdon Institute, The University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK.
authors: Natalia A
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3780-8164
authors: NA
authors: Bulgakova
authors: Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, and the Gurdon Institute, The University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK.
authors: Nicholas H
authors: NH
authors: Brown
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D007399:Interphase; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D061848:Optical Imaging; D011679:Pupa / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015053:Zygote / Q000254:growth & development; D000097573:Red Fluorescent Protein
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D000097573:Red Fluorescent Protein; C087777:Fbp1protein, Drosophila; C095900:fj protein, Drosophila; C501889:shg protein, Drosophila