Optogenetic control of apical constriction induces synthetic morphogenesis in mammalian tissues

Abstract

Apical constriction is a force-generating process required during embryonic development; there is a lack of tools to manipulate 3D shapes of mammalian tissues. Here the authors report the optogenetic method, OptoShroom3, to achieve fast spatiotemporal control of apical constriction in mammalian epithelia.