Fu-Lai Wen

Keywords epithelial cell columnarization cytoskeleton rearrangement cellular mechanics cyclic stretch mechanobiology Research topic(s) CP: Cell biology Introduction The epithelium is composed of tightly connected polarized cells that form a barrier, regulate material exchange between the lumen and the external space, and protect the underlying tissues and organs against external stimuli from the environment.1 Although the majority of related research has focused on the effect of biochemical...

Abstract The folding of epithelial cell sheets is a fundamental process that sculpts developing tissues and organs into their proper shapes required for normal physiological functions. In the absence of detailed biochemical regulations, the epithelial sheet folding may simply proceed through buckling due to mechanical compression arising extrinsically from the surroundings or intrinsically within the sheets.

Highlights • Cortical polarity is patterned by a cross-inhibitory network of four PAR species • Balance between PAR species specifies asymmetric and symmetric modes of cell division • Specification of the division mode occurs independently of fate determinants Summary Coordination between cell differentiation and proliferation during development requires the balance between asymmetric and symmetric modes of cell division.