Enter the Matrix

Developing organs must grow out into their surroundings, their extracellular matrix – but what are their first steps? Here a lab-grown organoid mimics the growth of a mammary gland, formed from cells donated by healthy human volunteers. Watched over days under a confocal fluorescent microscope (and speeded up here), the breast cells (highlighted in red) appear to rock back and forth – pulses of pushing and pulling that distort the nearby matrix of collagen (white). Not only does this help to create space for the branches of new ducts to grow, but it moulds the collagen into strong cage-like structures, further encouraging growth while supplying nourishing chemicals and support. Scientists may use similar techniques to examine these events in other tissues, including how breast cancers might develop into their own surrounding microenvironment.

Written by John Ankers

John Ankers

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A former researcher in systems biology, John is now an online biology tutor and professional coach supporting the wellbeing of scientists and NHS professionals. He's writing, too, of course.

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• Video from work by B. Buchmann and L. K. Engelbrecht, and colleagues
• Lehrstuhl für Biophysik E27, Physics Department and Center for Protein Assemblies CPA, Technical University Munich (TUM), Garching, Germany
• Video originally published with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
• Published in Nature Communications, May 2021