During organogenesis, mesenchymal cell layers – such as smooth muscle cells in vertebrates – can actively shape organ morphology. We study muscle cells in Drosophila that sculpt the testis into a characteristic spiral. Knockdown of the adhesion G protein-coupled receptor Cirl/Latrophilin disrupts the alignment and collective migration of these cells, thereby affecting testis morphology. We investigate how Cirl/Latrophilin regulates the cytoskeleton and adhesion complexes at cell-cell interfaces to enable normal cell alignment and organ formation.
Duration: 01/01/2026 - 31/12/2029 | 3rd Funding period Funded by: DFG - Collaborative Research Centre Type of project: Main DFG-project hosted at University of Münster |