To test this, we genetically increased Myo II activity, which results in more columnar, "straighter" cells. We were very excited to see that, as predicted, in these discs the SOP pattern is tighter!

Importantly, it also allows us to test the role of different signalling strength profiles (which reflect Notch concentration) along the apico-basal axis. An exponential decay provides the most consistent patterning results and also is also the best fit to the experimental Notch distribution.

To test how apical and lateral contacts shape Notch–Delta signalling, we built a Multi-layer Signalling Model. This framework simulates signalling on realistic 3D cell networks derived from imaging data.

What is really striking is that in wing discs nearly 100% of the cells are scutoids and these apico-basal intercalations double the number of unique cell contacts compared to apical contacts alone!

We developed a new imaging and segmentation pipeline to extract individual 3D cell shapes in this dense tissue and found that cells constantly swap neighbours along the apico-basal axis.

We wondered: could a cell’s 3D shape affect its signalling range? Wing disc cells are scutoids, and therefore could meet new neighbours through apico-basal intercalations.

We found that their pattern is sparse (spacing between SOPs > 1), and simulations predict that long-range signalling — about 1.5–2 cell diameters — is necessary to match what we see in experiments.

Thrilled to share the first story from my postdoc! 🎉 A wonderful experiment + simulations collaboration. In the Drosophila wing, we find that 3D cell shapes affect signalling range and fine-tune developmental patterning www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... Thread below ⬇️

On my way to #biologist100, very excited to present a story from my postdoc work we’re about to submit. If you want to know more about the role of 3D cell contacts in developmental patterning, pop by session "Patterning and morphogenesis" tomorrow morning or come to poster #209!