Dynamics of cell contacts during cell intercalation in germband extension of Drosophila

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Many morphogenetic movements during development depend on cell intercalation, when cells within a tissue exchange their neighbours. During this process cell contacts are weakened to slide along their neighbors, while at the same time they have to remain sufficiently strong to maintain the integrity of the tissue. In this project, directed cell intercalation during germband elongation in Drosophila em-bryogenesis is investigated. Specifically the role of newly synthesised E-Cadherin protein and proc-essing of the protein within the endoplasmic reticulum for the formation of new cell contacts during neighbour exchanges will be analysed. In addition we will investigate to which degree the cells within the tissue form a coordinated network, i. e. whether the mechanics of a cell influences the behaviour of its next and further distant neighbours and to which degree this mechanism is responsible for coor-dination.