A role for Myosin in triggering and executing amnioserosa cell delaminations during dorsal closure

Abstract

The remodeling of epithelial tissues is a critical process in morphogenesis, often involving the apoptotic removal of individual cells while preserving tissue integrity. In Drosophila, the amnioserosa—a highly dynamic extra-embryonic tissue—undergoes extensive remodeling, culminating in its complete elimination at the end of dorsal closure. While apoptotic cell delaminations in the amnioserosa have been proposed to contribute to dorsal closure, the cellular mechanisms underlying this process remain poorly understood. In this study, we have investigated actomyosin dynamics during cell delaminations and analyzed the consequences of perturbing non-muscle Myosin activity globally in the entire tissue as well as locally in groups of cells. We found that Myosin plays an essential role in both triggering and executing cell delaminations, with high Myosin contractility promoting cell delamination via caspase activation. Additionally, our results suggest that cell delaminations are governed by both cell-autonomous Myosin dynamics and mechanical cues from the tissue environment. Together, these findings provide new insights into the regulation of epithelial cell removal and the complex interplay between apoptotic and mechanical signals during tissue remodeling.