EMBL scientists found metabolism controls embryonic development tempo through signalling in a way separate from its established metabolic function.

More research related to this signalling could illuminate how it guides cell fate, developmental timing -- even disease.

www.embl.org/news/science...

How can we use cell shapes and geometry to study mechanics of tissues?

I'm @juliaeckert.bsky.social, and with this thread, I would like to show you the secrets of cells and tissues. Let’s connect biology with a little bit of physics. Don't be scared and get inspired 😀. #EpithelialMechanics

We are all super happy and proud to see our work on the function and evolution of the #cephalic #furrow published in @nature.com. Let me say a few things about the background and history of this work on the #Evolution_of_Morphogenesis (1/12)

We are searching for an enthusiastic scientist to join our team and establish annual killifish as a model system for early developmental biology and biophysics! @embl.org @embldbunit.bsky.social

Apply here:
embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/EMBL/job/Hei...

Please re-post 🙏

To all post-docs: The Genome Biology dept ‪@embl.org
has an Independent faculty position. Fantastic place to set up your lab –great package: core funding, fantastic Ph.D. students, cutting edge core facilities & great colleagues. Closing date Sept 19th
embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/EMBL/j...

Happy to share that I defended my PhD this week!
✨✨It has been an amazing adventure full of learning, great science and incredible people here at @embl.org!✨✨
Looking forward to the next steps in my scientific journey
🔬🐟💛
If you haven't yet, check the preprint of my PhD research: bit.ly/45eBxOg

Brillouin microscopy showing strength in non-invasive, live-imaging applications!

Studying fruit fly embryos during gastrulation as cells rapidly change shape @prevedel-lab.bsky.social @gomezjm-devmech.bsky.social @marialep.bsky.social characterised & mapped mechanical changes in 3D. rdcu.be/ev6ZX

Very important @nicolettapetridou.bsky.social‬ report #mechanochemical signalling control fate transitions www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... w/ wide/significant implications. Perhaps the clearest indication so far of HOW #NotInTheGenes cell interactions mechanical pattern gene expression
#MustRead

🧵8/ ✨✨✨ We propose a conceptual framework of how patterning and tissue physical properties interact: morphogen-driven emergent mechanics may allow morphogens to quickly shape their own length-scales, ensuring that patterning is in sync with the rapidly-changing tissue architecture ✨✨✨

🧵7/ As a result, Nodal is concentrated at the source enhancing downstream signaling and accelerating Lefty expression, to ensure timely signal termination. Thus, Nodal controls its own termination not only biochemically -via activating Lefty- but also mechanically, by regulating tissue rigidity.

🧵6/ By integrating theoretical frameworks of phase transitions and biochemical networks with optogenetic control of tissue rigidity we find that the rigidity transition drives the collapse of tissue porosity. This tissue reorganization negatively feeds back on Nodal restricting its diffusivity.

🧵5/ Since rigidity is patterned by Nodal itself, these results show that tissue phase transitions and Nodal operate in a closed #feedback loop. Given that Nodal terminates its signaling biochemically via expression of its antagonist Lefty, how does rigidity come into play?

🧵4/ What is the role of emergent rigidity? Using optogenetic and genetic manipulations of tissue rigidity we show that in the absence of tissue rigidification Nodal signaling dynamics expand in #space and #time.

🧵3/ What patterns tissue rigidity? The answer is the Nodal morphogen gradient. Without Nodal the tissue stays at #criticality and does not rigidify. With excess Nodal the system passes quickly the critical point and over-rigidifies.

🧵2/ In the zebrafish embryo a subtle #gradient in cell adhesion is formed during the exit from pluripotency. This mechanical gradient crosses a critical point along the specification axis, inducing material symmetry breaking and polarising tissue rigidity to the specification zone.

🧵1/ Are the instructive cues driving patterning tuned by tissue-level physical properties?

We approached this question together with our collaborators Zena Hadjivasiliou ‪@zhvas.bsky.social‬‬ @dianakhorom.bsky.social @mwdorr.bsky.social and Corominas-Murtra groups!‬

🔔 Proud to share the preprint of my PhD work in the Petridou group @nicolettapetridou.bsky.social @embl.org ✨

“A closed feedback between tissue phase transitions and morphogen gradients drives patterning dynamics” 🐟 🔁 📶

🔗 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

#devbio #biophysics

🧵⤵️

Fresh from the lab!

🎉 Excited to share our new work: “Adhesion-driven tissue rigidification triggers epithelial cell polarity”, now on @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social !

A huge thank you to @nicolettapetridou.bsky.social, Bernat, @crisp-c.bsky.social, Adrián, and everyone involved! 🙌

🧵⤵️

Time to apply to the DevBio summer school at EMBL Heidelberg! Hands on and interdisciplinary!

📢 Last call for the EMBL International PhD Programme summer recruitment!

This is a fully funded PhD programme fostering creative approaches to questions in the molecular life sciences.

Join us in promoting scientific excellence throughout Europe. Apply now!

www.embl.org/about/info/e...