Effects of local curvature on epithelia tissue -- coordinated rotational movement and other spatiotemporal arrangements

TL;DR

This paper investigates how local curvature influences the collective behavior, shape, and movement patterns of epithelial tissues using a multiphase field model on a spherical surface, revealing a phase of global rotation linked to tissue morphogenesis.

Contribution

It introduces a multiphase field model on curved surfaces to study curvature effects on epithelial tissue dynamics, including the emergence of global rotation and defect structures.

Findings

Identification of a global rotation phase in curved epithelial tissues

Analysis of positional and orientational defects in tissue arrangements

Linking tissue rotation to morphogenetic processes

Abstract

Coordinated movements of epithelia tissue are linked with active matter processes. We here consider the influence of curvature on the spatiotemporal arrangements and the shapes of the cells. The cells are represented by a multiphase field model which is defined on the surface of a sphere. Besides the classical solid and liquid phases, which depend on the curvature of the sphere, on mechanical properties of the cells and the strength of activity, we identify a phase of global rotation. This rotation provides a coordinated cellular movement which can be linked to tissue morphogenesis. This investigation on a sphere is a first step to investigate the delicate interplay between topological constraints, geometric properties and collective motion. Besides the rotational state we also analyse positional defects, identify global nematic order and study the associated orientational defects.