Cell competition is a quality control mechanism that eliminates unfit cells. How cells compete
is poorly understood, but it is generally accepted that molecular exchange between cells
signals elimination of unfit cells. Here we report an orthogonal mechanism of cell
competition, whereby cells compete through mechanical insults. We show that MDCK cells
silenced for the polarity gene scribble (scrib KD) are hypersensitive to compaction, that
interaction with wild-type cells causes their compaction and that crowding is sufficient for …