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Tensions divide

During development, proliferating cells are organized into compartments with boundaries across which cells fail to intermix. Compartment boundaries are often attributed to differential cell–cell adhesion between separate compartments. However, tension generated by actomyosin cables at boundaries can also function as a barrier that prevents cell mixing.

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Figure 1: Mechanisms that establish compartment boundaries during development.

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Martin, A., Wieschaus, E. Tensions divide. Nat Cell Biol 12, 5–7 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb0110-5

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