| Topic: | Mechanochemical feedback control in early mammalian development |
|---|---|
| Speaker: | Dr. Chii Jou Chan Postdoctoral Fellow, EMBL Heidelberg, Germany |
| Date: | Monday, 13 January 2020 |
| Time: | 11.00am to 12.00nn |
| Venue: | Seminar Room E3-06-01   (Block E3, Level 6) (map of NUS can be found at http://map.nus.edu.sg/) |
| Host: | Prof Phan-Thien Nhan |
Abstract
During animal development, many biological processes involve the emergence of a fluid-filled lumen. This process results in a buildup of hydrostatic pressure and biochemical signalling molecules in the tissue microenvironment. However, the roles of lumina in tissue morphogenesis and patterning remain largely unexplored. Using mouse blastocyst as a model, we show that hydraulic force during lumen expansion leads to robust control of blastocyst size and cell fate specification, which can be further influenced by biochemical signalling cues from within the lumen. Notably, cell sorting during blastocyst patterning is accompanied by fluid-solid transition in the tissue material property and dynamic cellular behaviors. The interplay between luminogenesis, tissue mechanics and signalling provides a new dimension for understanding the principles governing tissue self-organisation in embryonic development. Finally, I present new evidence and approaches to study the roles of mechanical forces in the development of egg cells within the ovary, which have important implications for reproductive medicine.
About the Speaker
Trained in soft matter physics, Chii carried out his PhD research with Jochen Guck at the University of Cambridge, where he investigated the mechanical and optical properties of living cells and nuclei using novel photonics and biophysical tools. Inspired by how forces shape early development of multicellular organisms, he joined the lab of Takashi Hiiragi (EMBL Heidelberg) to study the roles of luminal pressure in tissue size control and patterning during mouse blastocyst development (Chan, 2019, Nature). By bridging expertise in biophysics and mouse embryology, his long-term goal is to contribute towards an integrated understanding of the interplay between tissue mechanics and biochemical signalling in guiding early mammalian development, such as during oogenesis.