Regulation and function of actin nucleation in the early Drosophila embryo

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In the early embryo of Drosophila, actin filaments are dynamically organised in discrete structures that are controlled by actin nucleator complexes. Given the fast development and the experimental tractablility of the embryos, it is possible to correlate structure and function and test the function of actin structures in visible morphogenetic processes, such as membrane invagination, nuclear positioning, cell shapes and cell rearrangement. Here we investigate the function and regulation of the actin nucleator Diaphanous in plasma membrane organisation during cellularisation and germband extention during early embryonic development of Drosophila. Specifically, we investigate how Diaphanous is involved in defining and maintaining distinct membrane domains.