Moscona

Moscona, also sometimes encountered as Moscona's aggregates, refers to a method developed by Alberto Moscona for disaggregating embryonic tissues into single cells and then reaggregating these cells to study cell sorting and tissue organization. The process relies on gentle enzymatic digestion (typically using trypsin or similar enzymes) to break down the extracellular matrix holding cells together. This results in a suspension of individual cells that can then be cultured under conditions that promote reaggregation.

The significance of Moscona's work lies in its demonstration that cells from different tissues, when mixed and allowed to reaggregate, will sort themselves out according to their tissue of origin. This cell sorting is driven by differential cell adhesion, meaning that cells from the same tissue have a greater affinity for each other than for cells from different tissues. This differential adhesion plays a crucial role in morphogenesis and tissue development.

The Moscona technique has been widely used in developmental biology research to investigate the mechanisms of cell adhesion, cell-cell interactions, and pattern formation. It has also contributed to our understanding of the role of cell adhesion molecules, such as cadherins, in tissue organization and embryonic development. The basic principle of dissociation and reaggregation continues to be a valuable tool in diverse fields including tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.