Cell Adhesion and Tissue Morphogenesis Mechanisms

Cell adhesion and tissue morphogenesis underpin the orderly formation and maintenance of multicellular organisms. Adhesive interactions between cells are mediated by specialised molecules that link neighbouring membranes and connect to internal cytoskeletal networks. These interactions generate and respond to mechanical forces—such as cortical tension and tissue surface tension—that drive cell sorting, boundary formation and three-dimensional shaping of tissues. Morphogenetic processes integrate biochemical signalling, differential adhesion, contractile activity of actomyosin networks and dynamic remodelling of extracellular matrices. Together, these elements orchestrate events ranging from early embryonic germ layer segregation to organogenesis and tissue regeneration. Advances in quantitative imaging, molecular engineering and biophysical manipulation have revealed how distinct classes of adhesion molecules specify interface mechanics, guide collective cell movements and enable programmable assembly of complex multicellular architectures. Understanding these principles is central to developmental biology, pathology and emerging strategies in tissue engineering.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have elucidated how the regulation of tissue surface tension governs three-dimensional cell segregation. Using vertebrate progenitor cells and zebrafish germ layer models, quantitative time-lapse microscopy has revealed that modulation of Rho kinase and non-muscle myosin II activities controls cortical contractility and adhesive contact geometry. Altering these parameters shifts compaction and sorting behaviours in vitro, demonstrating the potential to tune tissue cohesion for engineering applications. In parallel, a modular suite of synthetic cell adhesion molecules has been developed by combining orthogonal extracellular binding domains with native intracellular cadherin or integrin motifs. These engineered proteins confer customised adhesion specificity and interface mechanics, allowing rational programming of multicellular assembly and systematic remodelling of native tissues. Together, these works establish programmable control of cell–cell interfaces and highlight the interplay of adhesion identity and contractile forces during morphogenesis.

Cell Adhesion and Tissue Morphogenesis Mechanisms publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in cell adhesion and tissue morphogenesis mechanisms across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Cell adhesion molecule: A transmembrane protein that mediates specific binding between adjacent cells, often by homophilic or heterophilic interactions.

Cadherin: A family of calcium-dependent adhesion proteins that link to the actin cytoskeleton and regulate intercellular junction stability.

Integrin: A class of transmembrane receptors that bind extracellular matrix components and connect to intracellular cytoskeletal networks.

Actomyosin contractility: Force generation by the interaction of actin filaments and myosin motors within the cell cortex, influencing cortical tension.

Tissue surface tension: A macroscopic measure of cohesive forces at the interface between tissues or between tissue and medium, arising from cell–cell adhesion and cortical tension.

Heterotypic interfacial tension: The tension at interfaces between different cell types or tissues, which can drive segregation when elevated relative to homotypic tensions.

References

1. Surface Tension and Neuronal Sorting in Magnetically Engineered Brain‐Like Tissue. Advanced Science (2023).
2. 3D cell segregation geometry and dynamics are governed by tissue surface tension regulation. Communications Biology (2023).
3. Programming multicellular assembly with synthetic cell adhesion molecules. Nature (2022).
4. Cell surface fluctuations regulate early embryonic lineage sorting. Cell (2022).