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Mesodermal cell migration during Xenopus gastrulation.

R Winklbauer1

  • 1Department of Zoology, University of California, Berkeley 94720.

Developmental Biology
|November 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary

Fibronectin (FN) directs amphibian gastrulation cell migration. Xenopus head mesoderm cells adhere to FN’s RGD site, enabling directional migration, crucial for development.

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Extracellular Matrix Research

Background:

  • Fibronectin (FN) is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein crucial for cell adhesion and migration.
  • Mesodermal cell migration during amphibian gastrulation is essential for embryonic development.
  • The blastocoel roof (BCR) serves as the in vivo substrate for mesodermal cell migration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the adhesion and migration of Xenopus mesodermal cells on fibronectin (FN) in vitro.
  • To determine the role of the RGD cell-binding site of FN in mesodermal cell adhesion and migration.
  • To compare in vitro cell behavior on FN with in vivo migration on the BCR.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro adhesion assays using Xenopus mesodermal cells and FN substrates.
  • Analysis of cell migration patterns and rates on FN and BCR substrates.
  • Inhibition studies using RGD peptides to block cell-FN interactions.

Main Results:

  • Xenopus mesodermal cells specifically bind to the RGD site of FN.
  • A gradient of FN adhesiveness exists along the anterior-posterior axis of dorsal mesoderm.
  • Anterior mesodermal cells migrate directionally on FN, while posterior cells exhibit random movement or are stationary.
  • FN-RGD interaction and cell spreading are necessary for stable head mesoderm cell locomotion.
  • Dissociated cells show random migration on BCR, unlike coherent explants on FN.

Conclusions:

  • Fibronectin-mediated cell adhesion and spreading, particularly via the RGD site, are critical for directional mesodermal cell migration during gastrulation.
  • The anterior-posterior gradient of FN adhesiveness influences mesodermal cell behavior.
  • While FN promotes directional migration in vitro, in vivo migration on the BCR involves complex interactions not fully replicated in vitro.

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