Adhesion Functions in Cell Sorting by Mechanically Coupling the Cortices of Adhering Cells

TLDR

Differential cell adhesion has long been considered a driver of embryonic cell sorting, as illustrated by zebrafish epiboly where the enveloping cell layer spreads over the yolk cell during gastrulation. Cell adhesion mechanically couples cortical networks at cell contacts, enabling cortex tension to regulate contact expansion. The study demonstrates that zebrafish cell sorting is driven by differential modulation of cortex tension at contacts, while actomyosin ring contraction and retrograde flow resistance drive EVL spreading. Referenced works include Maître et al.

Abstract

Embryonic Cell Sorting and Movement Differential cell adhesion has long been thought to drive cell sorting. Maître et al. (p. 253 , published online 23 August) show that cell sorting in zebrafish gastrulation is triggered by differences in the ability of cells to modulate cortex tension at cell-cell contacts, thereby controlling contact expansion. Cell adhesion functions in this process by mechanically coupling the cortices of adhering cells at their contacts, allowing cortex tension to control contact expansion. In zebrafish epiboly the enveloping cell layer (EVL)—a surface epithelium formed at the animal pole of the gastrula—gradually spreads over the entire yolk cell to engulf it at the end of gastrulation. Behrndt et al. (p. 257 ) show that an actomyosin ring connected to the epithelial margin triggers EVL spreading both by contracting around its circumference and by generating a pulling force through resistance against retrograde actomyosin flow.