The making, mechanical properties, structure and function of collagen IV fiber-like structures in Drosophila
The basement membrane (BM), a specialized ECM rich in Collagen IV and Laminin that is bound to the plasma membrane by integrins, underlies all epithelial tissues, yet whether and how the BM contributes to epithelial morphogenesis is poorly understood. Drosophila egg chambers are surrounded by a layer of epithelial cells secreting components forming a BM. The BM is characterized by patterned Collagen IV containing fiber-like structures (BM fibers) that are aligned perpendicular to the anteroposterior axis of the egg chamber. The BM fibers, together with co-aligned actin stress fibers, form a ‘molecular corset’ that plays an important role in the anteroposterior elongation of the egg chamber, which is essential for female fertility. How BM fibers are made and contribute to egg chamber elongation is not well understood.
The aim of this project is to decipher the making of BM fibers during egg chamber development and how they contribute to the structural and mechanical properties of the egg chamber during egg chamber elongation.