Liliya Leybova

Keywords planar cell polarity PCP cell migration collective migration hair follicle hair placode epithelial morphogenesis basal protrusions Introduction How cells coordinate individual behaviors to generate tissue-scale morphogenetic change is a central question in developmental biology. Cell behaviors such as shape changes, proliferation, migration, and intercalation are sources of stress that deform tissue sheets, creating bends, folds, or elongations that contribute to organ shape.

(A-C) Shh KO embryos display expanded and irregular shaped placodes. (A) In controls, Shh-GFP (green) and P-Cadherin (magenta) mark the inner placode. In Shh KO embryos, the zone of Shh-GFP and P-Cadherin is expanded, irregularly shaped, and lacks a smooth boundary between GFP+ and GFP- cells. Representative mild and severe Shh KO examples along with a control, quantified in B. (B) Quantification of placode morphologies.