Is mechano-sensitive expression of twist involved In mesoderm formation?

Mesoderm invagination, the first morphogenetic movement of gastrulation in the early Drososphila embryo, is controlled by the expression of the twist and snail genes. Our knowledge concerning epistatic relationships between these genes implies the existence of a poorly understood biochemical maintenance of twist expression during mesoderm invagination by the snail gene. In the light of a review detailing the role of these genes in the cell shape changes leading to invagination, and of recent findings showing the expression of twist as mechanically sensitive, we suggest that the expression of twist in the mesoderm could alternatively be maintained by mechanical strains developed during mesoderm invagination. Copyright 2004 Elsevier SAS