# Investigating Mechanisms of Force Transmission in Tissue Morphogenesis

> **NIH NIH R01** · MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · 2021 · $330,549

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 During development, tissues are sculpted into organs with precise forms and functions in a process
called tissue morphogenesis. Tissue morphogenesis results from cellular forces that are transmitted across
the tissue. Improper generation or coordination of forces leads to defects in organ formation, such as spina
bifida. Therefore, it is critical to both our understanding of development and human disease to determine the
mechanisms that control tissue morphogenesis at the molecular, cellular, and tissue level.
 Tissue invagination during gastrulation and neural tube closure is driven by apical constriction of
epithelial cells. This causes columnar cells to adopt a wedge shape, which promotes folding of the
epithelial sheet. We made the surprising discovery that apical constriction during Drosophila gastrulation is
driven by pulsed contractions of the actin-myosin cytoskeleton. Contraction pulses have now been
observed to promote many different morphogenetic processes, including tissue folding, contraction, and
axis elongation. Our work has shown that the dynamic turnover of actomyosin that accompanies pulsing is
critical to stably transmit force between cells. Furthermore, mutants in Cofilin, a gene involved in actin
turnover, are associated with neural tube defects in mice and humans. The mechanisms that regulate actin
turnover and enable forces to be transmitted across a tissue are unknown.
 We will investigate the mechanisms that enable forces to propagate across a tissue. First, we will
determine the spatial and temporal function of actin cytoskeletal genes we have determined are important
for force transmission. Second, we will examine how the apical contractile cortex is radially organized,
which enables forces to be transmitted across a cell. Third, we will examine the supracellular actomyosin
network that drives Drosophila gastrulation and determine how its organization contributes to developmental
robustness. The availability of live imaging, quantitative image analysis, genetics (mutants, RNAi), cell
biology (drugs), biophysics (laser cutting), and biochemistry makes Drosophila gastrulation a powerful
system to address these questions.
 This multidisciplinary and multiscale approach is essential to understand how dynamic molecular
and cellular behaviors collectively result in precise changes in tissue morphology. Members of my lab have
backgrounds in cell biology, genetics, physics, and computer science. In addition, we have established
collaborations with Mathematicians and experts in Mass Spectrometry to expand our research capabilities.
We are poised to make important discoveries regarding forces are passed between cells to drive robust
tissue morphogenesis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10075286
- **Project number:** 5R01GM105984-08
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
- **Principal Investigator:** Adam Christopher Martin
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $330,549
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2013-05-01 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10075286

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10075286, Investigating Mechanisms of Force Transmission in Tissue Morphogenesis (5R01GM105984-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10075286. Licensed CC0.

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