Cellular and molecular mechanisms shaping animal tissue architecture

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Animal morphogenesis is a fascinating and challenging area of modern biology. Many of the mechanisms that regulate cell and tissue shape are still poorly understood although abnormal morphogenesis is the cause of many human diseases. We use the fruit fly as a powerful genetic model system and we have studied several aspects of the development of the Drosophila eye to understand the formation of the architecture of complex cells and tissues. We will continue our work on the formation of the interrhabdomeral space, an epithelial lumen that is found at the centre of every ommatidium of the compound eye of a fly. Many organs contain tubes where epithelial cells surround a central lumen. Examples include lungs, liver, kidneys or the vascular system. Not only the formation and maintenance, but also the regulation of lumen shape (e.g. its diameter), are important determinants of organ function.