title: Xenopus as a model for studies in mechanical stress and cell division.
abstract: We exist in a physical world, and cells within biological tissues must respond appropriately to both environmental forces and forces generated within the tissue to ensure normal development and homeostasis. Cell division is required for normal tissue growth and maintenance, but both the direction and rate of cell division must be tightly controlled to avoid diseases of over-proliferation such as cancer. Recent studies have shown that mechanical cues can cause mitotic entry and orient the mitotic spindle, suggesting that physical force could play a role in patterning tissue growth. However, to fully understand how mechanics guides cells in vivo, it is necessary to assess the interaction of mechanical strain and cell division in a whole tissue context. In this mini-review we first summarise the body of work linking mechanics and cell division, before looking at the advantages that the Xenopus embryo can offer as a model organism for understanding: (1) the mechanical environment during embryogenesis, and (2) factors important for cell division. Finally, we introduce a novel method for applying a reproducible strain to Xenopus embryonic tissue and assessing subsequent cell divisions.
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Georgina A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Stooke-Vaughan
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213.|Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213.|Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213.
authors.forename: Lance A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5680-4030
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Woolner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008938:Mitosis / Q000235:genetics; D023421:Models, Animal; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000235:genetics; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development
keywords: Xenopus laevis; biomechanics; division orientation; mitosis