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Cell-Mediated Branch Fusion in the Drosophila Trachea

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Syncytia: Origin, Structure, and Functions

Part of the book series: Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation ((RESULTS,volume 71))

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Abstract

The Drosophila trachea is an interconnected network of epithelial tubes, which delivers gases throughout the entire organism. It is the premier model to study the development of tubular organs, such as the human lung, kidney, and blood vessels. The Drosophila embryonic trachea derives from a series of segmentally repeated clusters. The tracheal precursor cells in each cluster migrate out in a stereotyped pattern to form primary branches. Thereafter, the neighboring branches need to fuse to form an interconnected tubular network. The connection between neighboring branches is orchestrated by specialized cells, called fusion cells. These cells fuse with their counterparts to form a tube with a contiguous lumen. Branch fusion is a multi-step process that includes cell migration, cell adhesion, cytoskeleton track formation, vesicle trafficking, membrane fusion, and lumen formation. This review summarizes the current knowledge on fusion process in the Drosophila trachea. These mechanisms will greatly contribute to our understanding of branch fusion in mammalian systems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA

    Lan Jiang

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  1. Lan Jiang
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Correspondence to Lan Jiang .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Houston Methodist Research Institute and The Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA

    Malgorzata Kloc

  2. Houston Methodist Research Institute and The Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA

    Ahmed Uosef

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Jiang, L. (2024). Cell-Mediated Branch Fusion in the Drosophila Trachea. In: Kloc, M., Uosef, A. (eds) Syncytia: Origin, Structure, and Functions. Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation, vol 71. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37936-9_5

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