The development of air-filled respiratory organs is crucial for survival. We have combined live imaging with genetics to dissect airway maturation. Initially, a secretion burst deposits proteins into the nascent tracheal tubes. Solid material is then rapidly cleared and shortly thereafter liquid is removed from the lumen.
Grainy head in tube size control and wound healing
Grainy head (grh), is a phylogenetically conserved transcription factor. In grh mutants, the apical epithelial cell membrane is overgrown resulting in overgrown airway tubes.
