Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Assessing Neural Stem Cell Motility Using an Agarose Gel-based Microfluidic Device
12:55

Assessing Neural Stem Cell Motility Using an Agarose Gel-based Microfluidic Device

Published on: February 11, 2008

Motility signaled from the EGF receptor and related systems

Alan Wells1, Brian Harms, Akihiro Iwabu

  • 1Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|June 20, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Understanding cell motility, crucial for development and disease, requires studying epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling. This study details methods to measure cell migration and its biophysical components like extension and contraction.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular biology
  • Biophysics
  • Developmental biology

Background:

  • Cell motility is fundamental to numerous biological processes, including development and disease pathogenesis.
  • Growth factors activating the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) critically regulate distinct migration subsets essential for (neo)organogenesis and tumor invasion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide methods for a deeper understanding of the controls governing EGFR-mediated cell motility.
  • To enable the measurement of overall cell migration and its specific biophysical parameters.

Main Methods:

  • Detailed methodologies for quantifying overall cell motility.
  • Techniques to measure individual biophysical components of cell migration: extension, de-adhesion/retraction, and contraction.

Main Results:

  • The study presents a framework for dissecting complex cell migration into measurable events.
  • Established methods allow for the quantitative analysis of EGFR-driven cell motility.

Conclusions:

  • A comprehensive understanding of cell motility requires deconstruction into its fundamental biophysical processes.
  • The described methods facilitate the study and potential modulation of EGFR-mediated cell migration in biological contexts.

More Related Videos

Assessment of Dictyostelium discoideum Response to Acute Mechanical Stimulation10:40

Assessment of Dictyostelium discoideum Response to Acute Mechanical Stimulation

Published on: November 9, 2017

Imaging G Protein-coupled Receptor-mediated Chemotaxis and its Signaling Events in Neutrophil-like HL60 Cells08:24

Imaging G Protein-coupled Receptor-mediated Chemotaxis and its Signaling Events in Neutrophil-like HL60 Cells

Published on: September 14, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Chemotaxis in E. coli01:27

Chemotaxis in E. coli

Chemotaxis in Escherichia coli is a sensory-driven motility mechanism that enables bacteria to navigate chemical gradients, moving toward beneficial environments while avoiding harmful conditions. This process relies on a signal transduction system integrating external chemical cues with flagellar motor control.Chemoreceptors and Signal DetectionE. coli detects chemical gradients through methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs), which are membrane-bound chemoreceptors that sense attractants...
Cell Migration01:09

Cell Migration

Cell migration, the process by which cells move from one location to another, is essential for the proper development and viability of organisms throughout their life. When cells are not able to migrate properly to their ordained locations, various disorders may occur. For example, disruption in cell migration causes chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
Cell Migration01:19

Cell Migration

Cell migration is a process by which the cells move from one location to another, playing an essential role in embryological development, repair and regeneration, immune response, and metastasis. Cells migrate in response to chemical or mechanical signals generated by specific organs or tissues. The overall mechanism includes three steps - polarization, protrusion, and release. Polarization involves the formation of a distinct cell front and rear, which determines the direction of movement.
Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal01:22

Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal

Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma receptor (Eph) and its ligand, Eph receptor-interacting protein (Ephrin) were first discovered in the human carcinoma cell line, hence the name. Ephrin-Eph interaction guides cells to reach their appropriate location in adult tissues. They also play an essential role in the immune system by helping in immune cell migration, adhesion, and activation. Based on their structure and function, Eph is divided into two classes — EphA and EphB.
Cell Motility through Blebbing01:16

Cell Motility through Blebbing

Blebs are a type of membrane protrusion formed by the internal hydrostatic pressure of the cytoplasm. Blebs are observed in several cell types, including fibroblasts, immune cells, and single-celled organisms like the amoeba. The primary function of blebs is cell locomotion and apoptosis, but they are also found during necrosis and cell division. The life cycle of a bleb comprises an initiation phase followed by the expansion and retraction phases.
Blebbing Through the Matrix
In multicellular...
Chemotaxis and Direction of Cell Migration01:21

Chemotaxis and Direction of Cell Migration

Cells can detect chemical cues in their environment and reorganize the cytoskeleton to migrate toward them or away from them. This directional migration, called chemotaxis, is essential during embryogenesis and development, immune response, tissue repair and regeneration, and reproduction. These chemical cues can either attract or repel the cell's movement. For example, axon development is determined by a combination of chemoattractants and chemorepellents that direct the growing axon towards...