# Cell polarity and morphogenesis in Xenopus embryos

> **NIH NIH R35** · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · 2024 · $481,172

## Abstract

Project summary
In the early vertebrate embryo, signaling pathways instruct cell fates and orchestrate
morphogenetic movements, placing cells into proper positions to experience new rounds of
signaling and new waves of fate specification and morphogenesis. A long standing question
remains how changes in cell polarity determine collective cell behaviors during early development.
To approach this problem, this program focuses on the core planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway that
is one of the main drivers of morphogenetic processes in vertebrates. Core PCP proteins have
been discovered in Drosophila genetic studies. In vertebrates, the PCP protein complexes
Vangl/Pk/Celsr and Fz/Dvl/Celsr are conserved and accumulate at opposite cell edges along the
body axis, marking tissue polarity. The significance of the core PCP proteins extends far beyond
being epithelial polarity markers, as their vertebrate homologs function in key developmental
processes, including gastrulation movements, neural tube closure and branching morphogenesis,
the formation of functional cilia and left-right patterning. To gain mechanistic knowledge of
morphogenetic events, including vertebrate gastrulation, we will study the following long-standing
questions in the field: a) how cells polarize in response to a cue, b) how the cell polarity translates
into spatially restricted activation of effectors such as Myosin II, and c) how actomyosin contractions
and the resulting mechanical forces alter cell shape and coordinate collective cell movements.
New force-dependent genes that are involved in the control of morphogenesis will be identified.
These directions will be pursued using high resolution imaging, embryological and molecular
biological techniques combined with systems level analysis (proteomics and transcriptomics). Our
studies will use Xenopus embryos as our main experimental model, due to their fast external
development, ease of experimental manipulation and large size allowing biochemical and systems
biology approaches. The proposed studies will advance the knowledge of basic cell biological
mechanisms underlying vertebrate morphogenesis. High relevance to human health is due to the
known connections of PCP signaling to multiple congenital defects and syndromes, polycystic
kidney disease and cancers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10872309
- **Project number:** 5R35GM122492-08
- **Recipient organization:** ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
- **Principal Investigator:** Sergei Sokol
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $481,172
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-08-01 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10872309

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10872309, Cell polarity and morphogenesis in Xenopus embryos (5R35GM122492-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10872309. Licensed CC0.

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