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Cell polarity is the asymmetric organisation of several cellular components, including its plasma membrane, cytoskeleton or organelles. This asymmetry can be used for specialised functions, such as maintaining a barrier within an epithelium or transmitting signals in neurons.
The apical–basal polarity of epithelial cells depends on mutual antagonism between the apical aPKC and lateral LGL proteins. Until now, it has been unclear how LGL can be both a substrate and inhibitor of aPKC. Now, a cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of a stalled PAR6–aPKC–LGL complex addresses this conundrum.
Regulation of tissue growth is crucial for development, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, the authors identify a role for deubiquitylating enzymes in the regulation of the function of the atypical cadherin Fat and Hippo signalling.
Embryo gastrulation involves multiple simultaneous morphogenetic transformations that must be coordinated. Here, the authors show that nuclear migration acts as a spatiotemporal regulator of the cytoskeleton to drive complex tissue remodeling.
Studying cell polarity is often limited by the complexity and variety of image data. Polarity-JaM is a software suite streamlining cell polarity analysis with easy-to-use tools and interfaces demonstrated for endothelial cell behaviour.
Planar polarity in the Drosophila pupal wing is oriented by tissue stress but the mechanisms underlying this connection remain unclear. Here they show a crucial role for cell flow gradients in promoting planar polarity protein turnover and aligning proximodistal polarity.
The apical–basal polarity of epithelial cells depends on mutual antagonism between the apical aPKC and lateral LGL proteins. Until now, it has been unclear how LGL can be both a substrate and inhibitor of aPKC. Now, a cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of a stalled PAR6–aPKC–LGL complex addresses this conundrum.
Tunnelling nanotubes, which are actin-based protrusions different from filopodia and cytokinetic bridges, connect cells in the zebrafish embryo, enabling the transport of proteins and organelles.
Ahna Skop and Karen Schindler describe a paper that found localized translation in mammalian embryos, demonstrating the importance of RNA transport for development.
In this Tools of the Trade article, Isomursu (Ivaska lab) describes a new method for dynamic micropatterning, which enables investigation of cell adhesion and migration on substrates that mimic different extracellular matrix environments.
Lipids have a pivotal role in the growth of oocytes and fertilized eggs. Ultra-sensitive lipidome analysis provides a complete overview of the lipid profile during early embryonic development and brings insights into how dynamic lipid remodelling determines the fate of mammalian embryos.
In this Tools of the Trade article, Sarah Paramore (from the Devenport and Nelson labs) discusses the use of mouse strains carrying genomic alterations in PCP genes and how they can increase our understanding of mammalian planar cell polarity.
