Cell–cell junctions are specializations of the plasma membrane responsible for physically
integrating cells into tissues. We are now beginning to appreciate the diverse impacts that …

During development, mechanical forces cause changes in size, shape, number, position,
and gene expression of cells. They are therefore integral to any morphogenetic processes …

Axis elongation in Drosophila occurs through polarized cell rearrangements driven by
actomyosin contractility. Myosin II promotes neighbor exchange through the contraction of …

Understanding how molecular dynamics leads to cellular behaviours that ultimately sculpt
organs and tissues is a major challenge not only in basic developmental biology but also in …

Membrane fusion is an energy-consuming process that requires tight juxtaposition of two
lipid bilayers. Little is known about how cells overcome energy barriers to bring their …

To test the hypothesis that the myosin II motor domain (S1) preferentially binds to specific
subsets of actin filaments in vivo, we expressed GFP-fused S1 with mutations that enhanced …

Background Mechanosensing governs many processes from molecular to organismal
levels, including during cytokinesis where it ensures successful and symmetrical cell …

Living cells use cell surface proteins, such as mechanosensors, to constantly sense and
respond to their environment. However, the way in which these proteins respond to …

One of the unresolved questions in the field of cell division is how the actomyosin
cytoskeleton remains structurally organized while generating the contractile force to divide …

Cytokinesis is the step of the cell cycle in which the cell must faithfully separate the
chromosomes and cytoplasm, yielding two daughter cells. The assembly and contraction of …