Getting reshaped by the building of your substrate: Extracellular matrix assembly joins the morphogenesis toolkit

Abstract

In this issue of Developmental Cell, Serna-Morales et al. show evidence that autonomous assembly of the extracellular matrix drives remodeling of the Drosophila embryonic nervous system. This finding is consistent with the notion that self-assembly of the matrix generates stress that can be exploited by morphogenetic processes.