FOR 1756: Functional Dynamics of Cell Contacts in Cellular Assemblies and Migratory Cells

组织形态发生的一个核心要素是细胞-细胞接触的动力学，即它们的形成、溶解、重排和维持。特定细胞-细胞接触的分子是粘附分子和细胞表面配体-受体系统。动态的细胞接触决定了特定的细胞行为，并构成了组织延伸、细胞重排、细胞分选、细胞迁移和细胞-细胞结合的驱动力。研究单位的重点是定义和分析细胞接触的功能动力学在细胞组装和小组细胞在一套遗传可处理的模型系统。具体来说，该研究单元旨在识别和研究细胞接触动力学背后的生物力学机制，定义负责生物力学特性的分子机制，并识别和表征涉及细胞接触的新成分。

A central element in tissue morphogenesis is the dynamics of cell-cell contacts, i.e. their formation, dissolution, rearrangement and maintenance. The molecules underlying specific cell-cell contacts are adhesion molecules and cell surface ligand-receptor systems. The dynamic cell contacts determine specific cellular behaviour and constitute the driving force for tissue elongation, cell rearrangement, cell sorting, cell migration and cell-cell association. The Research Unit focusses on defining and analysing the functional dynamics of cell contacts in cellular assemblies and small sets of cells in a set of genetically tractable model systems. Specifically, the Research Unit aims at identifying and investigating the biomechanical mechanisms underlying the dynamics of cell contacts, define the molecular mechanisms responsible for the biomechanical properties and identify and characterise novel components involved in cell contacts.