Spatial patterning of contractility by a self-organized mechanogen activity gradient underlies Drosophila gastrulation (opens in new tab)

During development cell deformations are spatially organized, however, how cellular mechanics is spatially controlled is unclear. Spatial control of cell identity often determines local cellular mechanics in a two-tiered mechanism. Theoretical studies also proposed that molecular gradients, so called “mechanogens”, spatially control mechanics. We report evidence of a similar mechanism required for Drosophila gastrulation. We show that the GPCR ligand Fog, expressed in the posterior endoderm, ...