Biomechanics of morphogenesis
In order for morphological changes to occur in developing embryos, mechanical forces must be exerted. Therefore, if we are to unravel the mechanisms responsible for morphogenesis, it is crucial that we complement molecualr studies of the control of morphogenesis with analyses of the physics of how morphogenetic processes occur. In collaboration with Ray Keller's lab (Univ. of Virginia), we have been studying the biomechanics of various morphogenetic processes in early sea urchin and frog embryos. Our work involves measurement of mechanical properties of and force production by embryonic tissues, as well as manipulative experiments to test various hypotheses about the physical mechanisms causing specific morphogenetic events.
Selected references on this topic
- Koehl, M. A. R. (1990) Biomechanical approaches to morphogenesis. Seminars in Developmental Biology 1: 367-378. (overview)
- Koehl, M. A. R., D. S. Adams, and R. E. Keller (1990) Mechancial development of the notochord in early tail-bud amphibian embryos. pp. 471-485. In, N. Akkas [ed.], Biomechanics of Active Movement and Deformation of Cells. Springer-Verlag.
- Adams, D. S., R. E. Keller, and M. A. R. Koehl (1990) Mechanism of straightening and elongation of the notochord of Xenopus laevis. Development. 110: 115-130.
- Lane, M. C., M. A. R. Koehl, F. Wilt, and R. Keller (1993) The role of regulated secretion of apical extracellular matrix in epithelial invagination. Development 117: 1049-1060.
- Davidson, L. A., M. A. R. Koehl, R. Keller, and G. F. Oster (1995) How do sea urchins gastrulate? Distinguishing between mechanisms of primary invagination using biomechanics. Development 121: 2005-2018.
- Moore, S. W., R. E. Keller, and M. A. R. Koehl. (1995) The dorsal marginal zone stiffens anisotropically during its convergent extension in the gastrula of Xenopus laevis. Development. 121: 3131-3140.
- Elul, T., M. A. R. Koehl, and R. Keller. (1997) Cellular mechanisms underlying neural convergent extension in Xenopus laevis embryos: Neural deep cell explants. Devel. Biol. 191: 243-258.
- Davidson, L.A., G.F. Oster, R.E. Keller, and M.A.R. Koehl. (1999) Measurements of mechanical properties of the blastula wall reveal which hypothesized mechanisms of primary invagination are physically plausible in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. Devel. Biol. 209: 221-238.
- Koehl, M.A.R., K.J. Quillin, and C. Pell. (2000) Mechanical design of fiber-wound hydraulic skeletons: The stiffening and straightening of embryonic notochords. Am. Zool. 40: 28-41.
- Wolgemuth, C. W., Y. Inclan, J. Quan, G. Oster and M. A. R. Koehl. How to make a spiral bacterium. Physical Biology (in press).