Surface tension determines tissue shape and growth kinetics

• DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aav9394
• Publication Date: 2019-09-11T23:15:49Z
• Authors: S. Ehrig; B. Schamberger; C. M. Bidan; A. West; C. Jacobi; K. Lam; P. Kollmannsberger; A. Petersen; P. Tomancak; K. Kommareddy; F. D. Fischer; P. Fratzl; John W. C. Dunlop
• Keywords: Matrix (chemical analysis); Tension (geology); Shape change

The collective self-organization of cells into three-dimensional structures can give rise to emergent physical properties such as fluid behavior. Here, we demonstrate that tissues growing on curved surfaces develop shapes with outer boundaries constant mean curvature, similar the energy minimizing forms liquids wetting a surface. amount tissue formed depends shape substrate, more being deposited highly concave surfaces, indicating mechano-biological feedback mechanism. Inhibiting cell-contractility further revealed active cellular forces are essential for generating sufficient surface stresses liquid-like behavior and growth tissue. This suggests mechanical signaling between their environment, along continuous reorganization matrix is key principle emergence shape.