Structural Redundancy in Supracellular Actomyosin Networks Enables Robust Tissue Folding.
Tissue morphogenesis is strikingly robust. Yet, how tissues are sculpted under challenging conditions is unknown. Here, we combined network analysis, experimental perturbations, and computational modeling to determine how network connectivity between hundreds of contractile cells on the ventral side of the Drosophila embryo ensures robust tissue folding. We identified two network properties that mechanically promote robustness. First, redundant supracellular cytoskeletal network paths ensure global connectivity, even with network degradation. By forming many more connections than are required, morphogenesis is not disrupted by local network damage, analogous to the way redundancy guarantees the large-scale function of vasculature and transportation networks. Second, directional stiffening of edges oriented orthogonal to the folding axis promotes furrow formation at lower contractility levels. Structural redundancy and directional network stiffening ensure robust tissue folding with proper orientation.
['Yevick|Hannah G|HG|', 'Miller|Pearson W|PW|', 'Dunkel|Jörn|J|', 'Martin|Adam C|AC|']
D000205:Actomyosin D000818:Animals D003198:Computer Simulation D003599:Cytoskeleton D004331:Drosophila melanogaster D004847:Epithelial Cells D009024:Morphogenesis
redundancy network robustness Drosophila collective epithelia gastrulation myosin ventral furrow