About this Research Topic
Epithelial morphogenesis is a fascinating phenomenon that has captivated researchers for decades. During this time, researchers have found a plethora of proteins associated with different complexes, including cell adhesions, different cytoskeleton structures, and polarity complexes, most of which are essential to a certain extent during different morphogenetic processes. For example, it is well-established that epithelial cell polarity is essential for maintaining and remodeling cell adhesions during morphogenesis. However, it is still unclear how interactions between different adhesion and polarity complexes with cytoskeleton structures integrate during morphogenesis. Even less clear is how regulation of these interactions occurs at the cellular level, producing tissue-level coordination. Importantly, other cellular processes, like intracellular trafficking, must be integrated with plasma membrane remodeling in order to cope with cellular deformations and rearrangements that occur during epithelial morphogenesis.
Much of the research in epithelial morphogenesis has focused on examining the phenotypes generated after gain- or loss-of-function mutations affecting a particular component of the polarity, cell adhesion, or cytoskeleton complexes. Therefore, in this Topic Collection, we are inviting papers that aim instead to explore the roles of other cellular processes (membrane trafficking, lipid metabolism, redox status) that influence epithelial morphogenesis by directly modifying the activity or function of epithelial cell polarity complexes, cytoskeleton dynamics, and cell adhesions. Because morphogenesis occurs within the context of an embryo, we emphasize submissions of works that use whole animal models to investigate epithelial morphogenesis. Also, we encourage Authors to submit works employing in vitro systems (cell culture models or organoids) that can advance our understanding on the mechanisms that govern the epithelial phenotype during morphogenesis. We welcome Original Research, Methods, Review and Mini-Review articles that cover, but are not limited to, the following topics:
• How tension (i.e., actomyosin contraction) influences the stability and mobility of junctional proteins.
• What components of the membrane trafficking machinery interact with and regulate the stability of polarity complexes.
• How is the polarized lipid composition of the plasma membrane maintained and regulated during morphogenesis?
• What membrane trafficking mechanism regulates epithelial morphogenesis.
• How cytoskeleton dynamics feedback to junction dynamics.
• How post-translational modifications of junctional an polarity complexes can modify cell-cell interactions during morphogenesis.
Much of the research in epithelial morphogenesis has focused on examining the phenotypes generated after gain- or loss-of-function mutations affecting a particular component of the polarity, cell adhesion, or cytoskeleton complexes. Therefore, in this Topic Collection, we are inviting papers that aim instead to explore the roles of other cellular processes (membrane trafficking, lipid metabolism, redox status) that influence epithelial morphogenesis by directly modifying the activity or function of epithelial cell polarity complexes, cytoskeleton dynamics, and cell adhesions. Because morphogenesis occurs within the context of an embryo, we emphasize submissions of works that use whole animal models to investigate epithelial morphogenesis. Also, we encourage Authors to submit works employing in vitro systems (cell culture models or organoids) that can advance our understanding on the mechanisms that govern the epithelial phenotype during morphogenesis. We welcome Original Research, Methods, Review and Mini-Review articles that cover, but are not limited to, the following topics:
• How tension (i.e., actomyosin contraction) influences the stability and mobility of junctional proteins.
• What components of the membrane trafficking machinery interact with and regulate the stability of polarity complexes.
• How is the polarized lipid composition of the plasma membrane maintained and regulated during morphogenesis?
• What membrane trafficking mechanism regulates epithelial morphogenesis.
• How cytoskeleton dynamics feedback to junction dynamics.
• How post-translational modifications of junctional an polarity complexes can modify cell-cell interactions during morphogenesis.
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
