Actin-ring segment switching drives nonadhesive gap closure

Significance Gap closure to eliminate physical discontinuities and restore tissue integrity is a fundamental process in normal development and repair of damaged tissues and organs. Here, we report a previously unexplored gap-closure mechanism by which cell proliferation, collective cell migration, large-scale intercellular actin-network remodeling, and purse-string contraction act in a highly coordinated manner to restore the gap. In distinct...