Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026

04:17
Nuclear Migration in the Drosophila Oocyte
Published on: May 13, 2021
Orientation and function of the nuclear-centrosomal axis during cell migration.
G W Gant Luxton1, Gregg G Gundersen
1Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Current Opinion in Cell Biology
|September 3, 2011
Summary
The nuclear centrosomal (NC) axis orientation is key for cell migration. Its positioning relies on nucleus and centrosome coordination, influenced by environmental cues, and impacts cell movement and disease.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Cell migration is crucial for development and disease.
- Cell polarity, including the nuclear centrosomal (NC) axis, is a key feature of migrating cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the effector functions of the NC axis during cell migration.
- To highlight recent findings on NC axis orientation mechanisms.
- To discuss the significance of the NC axis in cell migration and disease.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent research on cell migration and NC axis.
- Analysis of studies on nucleus and centrosome positioning.
- Examination of environmental factors influencing NC axis orientation.
Main Results:
- NC axis orientation depends on coordinated nucleus and centrosome positioning.
- Environmental factors like cell-cell contacts and substrate topology significantly influence NC axis orientation.
- The NC axis plays a critical role in cell migration dynamics.
Conclusions:
- The NC axis is a critical regulator of cell migration.
- Understanding NC axis orientation provides insights into cell movement and associated diseases.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the NC axis's role in disease pathology.
Related Concept Videos
Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration
A migrating cell changes its shape during the cyclic events of attachment and detachment from the substratum and repositions the cell organelles correspondingly. These complex events are orchestrated by the dynamic cytoskeletal network comprising actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Cytoskeletal crosstalk — the direct and indirect communication between the different components — is crucial for this coordination. Direct communication involves various linker proteins that...
Role of Myosin in Cell Migration
Myosins are multimeric motor proteins involved in various cellular processes such as migration, adhesion, and proliferation. Myosin II is the most common type in animal cells, which binds and cross-links actin filaments.
Myosin II is a hexamer comprising two heavy chains with globular heads and coiled-coil tails, two regulatory light chains, and two essential light chains. The ATPase sites on the myosin heads hydrolyze ATP, and the released phosphate generates the force for contraction. It is...
Myosin II is a hexamer comprising two heavy chains with globular heads and coiled-coil tails, two regulatory light chains, and two essential light chains. The ATPase sites on the myosin heads hydrolyze ATP, and the released phosphate generates the force for contraction. It is...
Cell Polarization by Rho Proteins
Cell polarity is the asymmetric distribution of cellular and membrane components, making one side of the cell different from the other. This polarity is essential to many processes such as embryogenesis, axon migration, glucose transport across epithelial cells, and directional cell migration. A migrating cell responds to intracellular or extracellular signals via molecular cascades that reorganize the actin cytoskeleton to establish this polarity. In these cells, the Rho family proteins Cdc42,...
Forces Acting on Chromosomes
During mitosis, chromosome movements occur through the interplay of multiple piconewton level forces. In prometaphase, these forces help in chromosome assembly or congression at the equatorial plane, eventually leading to their alignment at the metaphase plate. The forces acting on the chromosomes are space and time-dependent; therefore, they vary with the position of the chromosomes as the cell progresses through mitosis.
Microtubules and motor proteins exert two types of forces on...
Microtubules and motor proteins exert two types of forces on...
Centrioles and Centrosomes
Most animal cells comprise a pair of centrioles together called a centrosome. The cell duplicates its centrosome and contains two centrosomes side-by-side, which begin to move apart during the prophase. As the centrosomes migrate to two different sides of the cell, microtubules start extending from each centrosome toward the other end. The mitotic spindle is composed of the centrosomes and their emerging microtubules.
Near the end of the prophase, also called late prophase or "prometaphase,"...
Near the end of the prophase, also called late prophase or "prometaphase,"...
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.
