Sevan Hopyan

Durotaxis bridges phase transition as a function of tissue stiffness in vivo

The paper shows that fibronectin-dependent tissue stiffness controls durotaxis and cell rearrangements through a phase transition model in mouse limb bud mesoderm.

Mesenchymal Wnts are required for morphogenetic movements of calvarial osteoblasts during apical expansion

This study identifies the role of mesenchymal Wnts in regulating morphogenetic movements of calvarial osteoblasts during apical expansion in mouse embryos.

Apical expansion of calvarial osteoblasts and suture patency is dependent on graded fibronectin cues

This study shows that graded Fibronectin (FN1) cues guide calvarial osteoblast migration and suture patency, with disruptions in FN1 or related pathways causing craniosynostosis in mice.

Fluctuations and entropy enable neural crest cell ingression

The paper shows that stochastic fluctuations and entropy, not stiffness gradients, drive neural crest cell ingression in mice.

Patterning the embryonic pulmonary mesenchyme

This study uses single-cell RNA-sequencing to show that pulmonary mesenchyme in embryonic mouse lungs lacks distinct progenitors and instead forms a continuum of cell identities regulated by Wnt signaling.

Live imaging YAP signaling in mouse embryo development

This study develops a YAP fusion reporter mouse line and uses live imaging to analyze YAP localization dynamics during mouse embryonic development.

Three-dimensional tissue stiffness mapping in the mouse embryo supports durotaxis during early limb bud morphogenesis

The paper introduces a 3D magnetic device to measure tissue stiffness in mouse embryos, revealing an anterior stiffness gradient that guides cell movement during limb bud development.

Oscillatory cortical forces promote three dimensional cell intercalations that shape the mandibular arch

The paper shows that oscillatory cortical forces drive 3D cell intercalations in the mouse mandibular arch, shaping embryonic structures through Wnt5a, YAP/TAZ, and PIEZO1.