Kune loss of function modifies cellular shapes. (A and B) Confocal images of the epidermis in control (A) and kune embryos (B) expressing Cherry::Moesin labeling F-actin (left) and ubi-E-cad::GFP labeling E-cad (right). (C and D) Average area (C) and average aspect ratio (D) of smooth and denticle cells in control (48 smooth cells and 24 denticle cells from three embryos) and kune embryos (64 smooth cells and 32 denticle cells from four embryos). (E and F) Confocal images of the epidermis in control (E) and kune RNAi embryos (F) expressing ubi-E-cad::GFP labeling E-cad and Cherry::CAAX under control of the en-Gal4 promotor labeling cell membranes. Left: Merged images. Right: E-cad. (G and H) Average area (G) and average aspect ratio (H) of smooth and denticle cells in control (48 smooth cells and 24 denticle cells from three embryos) and kune RNAi embryos (96 smooth cells and 48 denticle cells from six embryos). (I and J) Confocal images of the epidermis in control (I) and kune embryos (J) expressing E-cad::GFP at different time points of wound closure depicting neighbor exchange events. Magenta dots mark the cell analyzed, yellow dots mark neighbors, white dots mark cells that lose contact with the cell analyzed, and the green dot marks a cell establishing a new connection. Bars, 10 µm. (K and L) Number of neighbors in cells at the row adjacent to the wound edge (K) and number of cells in the first two rows closer to the wound edge (L) in control (n = 4) and kune (n = 5) embryos. (M and N) Ratio of neighbor exchange events (M) and percentage of cells undergoing neighbor exchange events (N) in control (n = 4) and kune (n = 5) embryos. An unpaired t test was performed to test for significant differences between groups. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001. Error bars represent SEM. Images are maximum Z projections of 49 slices (17-µm-thick stack). Representative cells are outlined. S, smooth cells; D, denticle cells; DV, dorsal–ventral axis; AP, anterior–posterior axis.