Breaking down barriers: the evolution of cell invasion.

Area of Science:

• Cell Biology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Developmental Biology

Background:

• Cell invasion is a fundamental cellular process crucial for tissue separation and development.
• It likely co-evolved with the emergence of basement membranes in multicellular organisms (metazoans).
• Cellular invasion plays roles in various conserved and lineage-specific biological processes during development and homeostasis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss the contexts and evolutionary significance of cell invasion.
• To highlight established and emerging model systems for studying cell invasion.
• To identify gaps in understanding the evolution of this critical cellular behavior.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on cell invasion.
• Comparative analysis of cell invasion across different species and biological contexts.
• Discussion of recent advancements in genome editing and live-cell imaging.

Main Results:

• Cell invasion is essential for breaking down tissue barriers, a function likely arising with basement membranes.
• Numerous biological processes, from development to homeostasis, depend on cell invasive capabilities.
• Recent technological advances provide new insights but comparative approaches are needed for evolutionary understanding.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the evolution of cell invasion requires cross-species comparative studies.
• Further research is needed to fill knowledge gaps regarding the evolutionary trajectory of cell invasion.
• Cell invasion is a fundamental behavior with deep evolutionary roots in metazoan life.