TY - JOUR TI - Epithelial geometry regulates spindle orientation and progenitor fate during formation of the mammalian epidermis AU - Box, Kimberly AU - Joyce, Bradley W AU - Devenport, Danelle A2 - Bronner, Marianne E A2 - Horsley, Valerie A2 - Yamashita, Yukiko M A2 - Bellaïche, Yohanns VL - 8 PY - 2019 DA - 2019/06/12 SP - e47102 C1 - eLife 2019;8:e47102 DO - 10.7554/eLife.47102 UR - https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.47102 AB - The control of cell fate through oriented cell division is imperative for proper organ development. Basal epidermal progenitor cells divide parallel or perpendicular to the basement membrane to self-renew or produce differentiated stratified layers, but the mechanisms regulating the choice between division orientations are unknown. Using time-lapse imaging to follow divisions and fates of basal progenitors, we find that mouse embryos defective for the planar cell polarity (PCP) gene, Vangl2, exhibit increased perpendicular divisions and hyperthickened epidermis. Surprisingly, this is not due to defective Vangl2 function in the epidermis, but to changes in cell geometry and packing that arise from the open neural tube characteristic of PCP mutants. Through regional variations in epidermal deformation and physical manipulations, we show that local tissue architecture, rather than cortical PCP cues, regulates the decision between symmetric and stratifying divisions, allowing flexibility for basal cells to adapt to the needs of the developing tissue. KW - epidermis KW - planar cell polarity KW - oriented cell division KW - skin KW - cell geometry KW - stratification JF - eLife SN - 2050-084X PB - eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd ER -