Regulation of membrane dynamics in developing epithelia

A cellular understanding of developmental mechanisms embraces complex dynamic processes at the cell surface. Studies of trafficking pathways and of associated cytoskeletal elements in genetically tractable organisms allow a better analysis of the mechanisms underlying the control of cell polarization and tissue morphogenesis at different stages of animal development. It is now possible to identify signalling pathways that provide the temporal triggers and/or spatial cues to regulate core cellular effectors during migration, morphogenesis and the formation of epithelia.