Cuticle formation and tissue morphogenesis in the Drosophila wing
The aECM in arthropods is produced by a sheet of epidermal cells, that secrete chitin via a membrane embedded chitin synthase. Chitin then organizes in the so-called assembly zone into different architectures, which lead to materials with varying mechanical and optical properties. How particular architectures of aECM are formed remains an open question. We will investigate the bidirectional interplay between cells and the chitin architecture they produce, using D. melanogaster for its genetic tractability, compatibility for live imaging, and well-characterized developmental dynamics. Our aim is to establish a mechanistic link between aECM assembly and cell and tissue organization during wing morphogenesis.