scholarly journals Sending messages in moving cells: mRNA localization and the regulation of cell migration

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 595-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shane P. Herbert ◽  
Guilherme Costa
Keyword(s):  
Cell Migration ◽  
Cell Polarity ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Extrinsic Factors ◽  
Directed Movement ◽  
Molecular Control ◽  
Local Protein Synthesis ◽  
Motile Cells ◽  
Fundamental Biological Process

Abstract Cell migration is a fundamental biological process involved in tissue formation and homeostasis. The correct polarization of motile cells is critical to ensure directed movement, and is orchestrated by many intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Of these, the subcellular distribution of mRNAs and the consequent spatial control of translation are key modulators of cell polarity. mRNA transport is dependent on cis-regulatory elements within transcripts, which are recognized by trans-acting proteins that ensure the efficient delivery of certain messages to the leading edge of migrating cells. At their destination, translation of localized mRNAs then participates in regional cellular responses underlying cell motility. In this review, we summarize the key findings that established mRNA targetting as a critical driver of cell migration and how the characterization of polarized mRNAs in motile cells has been expanded from just a few species to hundreds of transcripts. We also describe the molecular control of mRNA trafficking, subsequent mechanisms of local protein synthesis and how these ultimately regulate cell polarity during migration.

scholarly journals Contribution of Filopodia to Cell Migration: A Mechanical Link between Protrusion and Contraction

2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fei Xue ◽  
Deanna M. Janzen ◽  
David A. Knecht
Keyword(s):  
Cell Migration ◽  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
Myosin Ii ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Distal Portion ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Actin Networks ◽  
Motile Cells ◽  
A Cell

Numerous F-actin containing structures are involved in regulating protrusion of membrane at the leading edge of motile cells. We have investigated the structure and dynamics of filopodia as they relate to events at the leading edge and the function of the trailing actin networks. We have found that although filopodia contain parallel bundles of actin, they contain a surprisingly nonuniform spatial and temporal distribution of actin binding proteins. Along the length of the actin filaments in a single filopodium, the most distal portion contains primarily T-plastin, while the proximal portion is primarily bound byα-actinin and coronin. Some filopodia are stationary, but lateral filopodia move with respect to the leading edge. They appear to form a mechanical link between the actin polymerization network at the front of the cell and the myosin motor activity in the cell body. The direction of lateral filopodial movement is associated with the direction of cell migration. When lateral filopodia initiate from and move toward only one side of a cell, the cell will turn opposite to the direction of filopodial flow. Therefore, this filopodia-myosin II system allows actin polymerization driven protrusion forces and myosin II mediated contractile force to be mechanically coordinated.

scholarly journals Multiscale modelling of motility wave propagation in cell migration

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamid Khatee ◽  
Andras Czirok ◽  
Zoltan Neufeld
Keyword(s):  
Cell Migration ◽  
Collective Motion ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Collective Cell Migration ◽  
Tissue Formation ◽  
Cell Monolayers ◽  
Polarization Wave ◽  
Fundamental Biological Process ◽  
Cortical Contractility ◽  
Contractile Cells

AbstractThe collective motion of cell monolayers within a tissue is a fundamental biological process that occurs during tissue formation, wound healing, cancerous invasion, and viral infection. Experiments have shown that at the onset of migration, the motility is self-generated as a polarization wave starting from the leading edge of the monolayer and progressively propagates into the bulk. However, it is unclear how the propagation of this motility wave is influenced by cellular properties. Here, we investigate this using a computational model based on the Potts model coupled to the dynamics of intracellular polarization. The model captures the propagation of the polarization wave initiated at the leading edge and suggests that the cells cortex can regulate the migration modes: strongly contractile cells may depolarize the monolayer, whereas less contractile cells can form swirling movement. Cortical contractility is further found to limit the cells motility, which (i) decelerates the wave speed and the leading edge progression, and (ii) destabilises the leading edge into migration fingers. Together, our model describes how different cellular properties can contribute to the regulation of collective cell migration.

scholarly journals Cdc42 localization and cell polarity depend on membrane traffic

2010 ◽  
Vol 191 (7) ◽  
pp. 1261-1269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naël Osmani ◽  
Florent Peglion ◽  
Philippe Chavrier ◽  
Sandrine Etienne-Manneville
Keyword(s):  
Cell Migration ◽  
Cell Polarity ◽  
Membrane Trafficking ◽  
Membrane Traffic ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Cell Polarization ◽  
Membrane Dynamics ◽  
Cell Functions ◽  
Directed Cell Migration ◽  
Division Cell

Cell polarity is essential for cell division, cell differentiation, and most differentiated cell functions including cell migration. The small G protein Cdc42 controls cell polarity in a wide variety of cellular contexts. Although restricted localization of active Cdc42 seems to be important for its distinct functions, mechanisms responsible for the concentration of active Cdc42 at precise cortical sites are not fully understood. In this study, we show that during directed cell migration, Cdc42 accumulation at the cell leading edge relies on membrane traffic. Cdc42 and its exchange factor βPIX localize to intracytosplasmic vesicles. Inhibition of Arf6-dependent membrane trafficking alters the dynamics of Cdc42-positive vesicles and abolishes the polarized recruitment of Cdc42 and βPIX to the leading edge. Furthermore, we show that Arf6-dependent membrane dynamics is also required for polarized recruitment of Rac and the Par6–aPKC polarity complex and for cell polarization. Our results demonstrate influence of membrane dynamics on the localization and activation of Cdc42 and consequently on directed cell migration.

scholarly journals The Arp2/3 complex is required for lamellipodia extension and directional fibroblast cell migration

2012 ◽  
Vol 197 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Praveen Suraneni ◽  
Boris Rubinstein ◽  
Jay R. Unruh ◽  
Michael Durnin ◽  
Dorit Hanein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Migration ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Fibroblast Cell ◽  
Fibroblast Cells ◽  
Actin Network ◽  
Directional Migration ◽  
Fibroblast Migration ◽  
Motile Cells

The Arp2/3 complex nucleates the formation of the dendritic actin network at the leading edge of motile cells, but it is still unclear if the Arp2/3 complex plays a critical role in lamellipodia protrusion and cell motility. Here, we differentiated motile fibroblast cells from isogenic mouse embryonic stem cells with or without disruption of the ARPC3 gene, which encodes the p21 subunit of the Arp2/3 complex. ARPC3−/− fibroblasts were unable to extend lamellipodia but generated dynamic leading edges composed primarily of filopodia-like protrusions, with formin proteins (mDia1 and mDia2) concentrated near their tips. The speed of cell migration, as well as the rates of leading edge protrusion and retraction, were comparable between genotypes; however, ARPC3−/− cells exhibited a strong defect in persistent directional migration. This deficiency correlated with a lack of coordination of the protrusive activities at the leading edge of ARPC3−/− fibroblasts. These results provide insights into the Arp2/3 complex’s critical role in lamellipodia extension and directional fibroblast migration.

scholarly journals Intracellular Mechanics of Migrating Fibroblasts

2005 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 328-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P. Kole ◽  
Yiider Tseng ◽  
Ingjye Jiang ◽  
Joseph L. Katz ◽  
Denis Wirtz
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Cell Migration ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Microtubule Network ◽  
Directed Cell Migration ◽  
Motile Cells ◽  
Cytoskeleton Reorganization ◽  
Scratch Wound ◽  
Mechanical Polarization ◽  
Biochemical Signals

Cell migration is a highly coordinated process that occurs through the translation of biochemical signals into specific biomechanical events. The biochemical and structural properties of the proteins involved in cell motility, as well as their subcellular localization, have been studied extensively. However, how these proteins work in concert to generate the mechanical properties required to produce global motility is not well understood. Using intracellular microrheology and a fibroblast scratch-wound assay, we show that cytoskeleton reorganization produced by motility results in mechanical stiffening of both the leading lamella and the perinuclear region of motile cells. This effect is significantly more pronounced in the leading edge, suggesting that the mechanical properties of migrating fibroblasts are spatially coordinated. Disruption of the microtubule network by nocodazole treatment results in the arrest of cell migration and a loss of subcellular mechanical polarization; however, the overall mechanical properties of the cell remain mostly unchanged. Furthermore, we find that activation of Rac and Cdc42 in quiescent fibroblasts elicits mechanical behavior similar to that of migrating cells. We conclude that a polarized mechanics of the cytoskelton is essential for directed cell migration and is coordinated through microtubules.

scholarly journals The Rac-GAP Bcr is a novel regulator of the Par complex that controls cell polarity

2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (24) ◽  
pp. 3857-3868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anjana S. Narayanan ◽  
Steve B. Reyes ◽  
Kyongmi Um ◽  
Joseph H. McCarty ◽  
Kimberley F. Tolias
Keyword(s):  
Cell Migration ◽  
Cell Polarity ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Cell Polarization ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Complex Activity ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Directed Cell Migration ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange Factor ◽  
T Lymphoma

Cell polarization is essential for many biological processes, including directed cell migration, and loss of polarity contributes to pathological conditions such as cancer. The Par complex (Par3, Par6, and PKCζ) controls cell polarity in part by recruiting the Rac-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor T-lymphoma invasion and metastasis 1 (Tiam1) to specialized cellular sites, where Tiam1 promotes local Rac1 activation and cytoskeletal remodeling. However, the mechanisms that restrict Par-Tiam1 complex activity to the leading edge to maintain cell polarity during migration remain unclear. We identify the Rac-specific GTPase-activating protein (GAP) breakpoint cluster region protein (Bcr) as a novel regulator of the Par-Tiam1 complex. We show that Bcr interacts with members of the Par complex and inhibits both Rac1 and PKCζ signaling. Loss of Bcr results in faster, more random migration and striking polarity defects in astrocytes. These polarity defects are rescued by reducing PKCζ activity or by expressing full-length Bcr, but not an N-terminal deletion mutant or the homologous Rac-GAP, Abr, both of which fail to associate with the Par complex. These results demonstrate that Bcr is an integral member of the Par-Tiam1 complex that controls polarized cell migration by locally restricting both Rac1 and PKCζ function.

Actin filament debranching regulates cell polarity during cell migration and asymmetric cell division

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (37) ◽  
pp. e2100805118
Author(s):  
Chao Xie ◽  
Yuxiang Jiang ◽  
Zhiwen Zhu ◽  
Shanjin Huang ◽  
Wei Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Migration ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Cell Polarity ◽  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Asymmetric Cell Division ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Actin Networks ◽  
C Elegans

The formation of the branched actin networks is essential for cell polarity, but it remains unclear how the debranching activity of actin filaments contributes to this process. Here, we showed that an evolutionarily conserved coronin family protein, the Caenorhabditis elegans POD-1, debranched the Arp2/3-nucleated actin filaments in vitro. By fluorescence live imaging analysis of the endogenous POD-1 protein, we found that POD-1 colocalized with Arp2/3 at the leading edge of the migrating C. elegans neuroblasts. Conditional mutations of POD-1 in neuroblasts caused aberrant actin assembly, disrupted cell polarity, and impaired cell migration. In C. elegans one-cell−stage embryos, POD-1 and Arp2/3, moved together during cell polarity establishment, and inhibition of POD-1 blocked Arp2/3 motility and affected the polarized cortical flow, leading to symmetric segregation of cell fate determinants. Together, these results indicate that F-actin debranching organizes actin network and cell polarity in migrating neuroblasts and asymmetrically dividing embryos.

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