Biological tubes are essential for animal survival, and their functions are highly dependent on tube shape. Analyzing the contributions of cell shape and organization to the morphogenesis of small tubes has been hampered by the limitations of existing programs in quantifying cell geometry on highly curved tubular surfaces and calculating tube-specific parameters. I developed a computational tool called QuBiT (Quantitative Tool for Biological Tubes) and used it to analyze morphogenesis during embryonic Drosophila trachea development. Analysis in wildtype tracheal dorsal trunks (DT) found previously unknown anterior-to-posterior gradients of cell orientation and aspect ratio as well as periodicity in the organization of cells in the main tube. Furthermore, computational modeling of tracheal expansion suggests that cell intercalation and/or rearrangement occurs but is not necessary to maintain the integrity of the DT. Analysis of tracheal mutants revealed unexpected findings, including interactions between Src42 and FoxO, Uif, and the Na+/K+ ATPase, suggesting that Src42 is a central regulator of tube size. These results demonstrate the importance of a computational tool for analyzing the morphogenesis of small diameter biological tubes and are a great asset to elucidating the biomolecular and biophysical mechanisms of tube size regulation.

Creator

• Yang, Ran

DOI

• https://doi.org/10.21985/n2-qjr0-4e06

Subject

• Biology

Language

• en

Alternate Identifier

• etdadmin_upload_674761
• http://dissertations.umi.com/northwestern:14738

Date created

• 2019-01-01

Resource type

• Dissertation

Rights statement

• In Copyright