Preferential adhesion mediated by Hibris and roughest regulates morphogenesis and patterning in the Drosophila eye

Cell adhesion is essential for morphogenesis; however, the mechanisms by which cell adhesion coordinates precisely regulated morphogenesis are poorly understood. Here we analyze the morphogenetic processes that organize the interommatidial precursor cells (IPCs) of the Drosophila pupal eye. We demonstrate that the Drosophila immunoglobulin superfamily members Hibris and Roughest are essential for IPC morphogenesis in the eye. The two loci are expressed in complementary cell types, and Hibris and Roughest proteins bind directly in vivo. Primary pigment cells employ Hibris to function as organizers in this process; IPCs minimize contacts with neighboring IPCs and utilize Roughest to maximize contacts with primaries. In addition, we provide evidence that interactions between Hibris and Roughest promote junction formation and that levels of Roughest in individual cells determine their capacity for competition. Our results demonstrate that preferential adhesion mediated by heterophilic interacting cell-adhesion molecules can create a precise pattern by minimizing surface free energy.