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Published on: February 1, 2018
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Cell migration in the Xenopus gastrula.
Yunyun Huang1, Rudolf Winklbauer1
1Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Developmental Biology
|June 27, 2018
Summary
Xenopus gastrulation involves cell migration and rearrangement within tissues. Researchers identified distinct cell migration modes and plasticity, crucial for embryonic development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Embryology
Background:
- Xenopus gastrulation relies on cell rearrangement and migration within multilayered tissues.
- Understanding cell migration mechanisms is key to deciphering embryonic development.
- Specific roles of cell adhesion molecules in gastrulation cell migration remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distinct modes of cell migration during Xenopus gastrulation.
- To explore the cellular traits controlling gastrula cell motility.
- To understand the plasticity of cell migration in response to environmental cues.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of cell migration patterns in Xenopus gastrula.
- Dissection of cell motility into distinct traits like polarity, adhesion, and protrusive activity.
- Observation of cellular responses to substratum properties.
Main Results:
- Two distinct cell migration modes were identified in the vegetal domain: ingression-type migration and mesenchymal migration.
- Vegetal endoderm cells exhibit ingression-type migration with macropinocytosis.
- Mesendoderm and prechordal mesoderm cells utilize lamellipodia for mesenchymal migration.
- Gastrula cell motility traits are separately controlled but interact combinatorially.
- Cells demonstrate plasticity, switching migration traits in response to substratum properties.
Conclusions:
- Cellular migration is a fundamental process driving Xenopus gastrulation.
- Distinct migration modes and trait plasticity contribute to precise embryonic patterning.
- Further research into cell adhesion molecules and their functions in migration is warranted.
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