Nature Communications (Apr 2016)
Microtubule-dependent balanced cell contraction and luminal-matrix modification accelerate epithelial tube fusion
Abstract
During tracheal tube fusion in Drosophila, a pair of tip cells form an adherens junction and then fuse their plasma membranes. Here the authors show that a balanced pulling force mediated by myosin and microtubules, as well as localized deposition of matrix, promotes plasma membrane fusion.