Cell migration is a fundamental biological process and much is now known about mechanisms involved in single cell motility on planar substrates of extracellular matrix. Less well understood is the migration of contiguous groups of cells (e.g., sheets, clusters, and cord-like structures) where cell-cell interactions are involved in the regulation of cell polarity and protrusive activities within the migratory array. The central hypothesis to be tested during the next progress period is that a cadherin complex with links to the intermediate filament cytoskeleton functions as a putative mechanosensory apparatus to direct and orient collective cell movements in the mesendoderm of Xenopus embryos. Progress during the previous project period established the importance of cadherin-dependent cell-cell contact in directing mesendoderm cell polarity, protrusive behaviors and migration on fibronectin (FN) in vivo. Moreover, directed cell movements on FN require force application through cadherins and an intact intermediate filament cytoskeleton. The coordinate involvement of both cadherins and integrins in this process is a key target of this proposal, which seeks to establish the mechanical/cytoskeletal and signaling linkages involved. The proposal has two Specific Aims. First, the relationship between cadherin adhesion, force application and the intermediate filament and actin cytoskeletons will be established in order to identify mechanisms of regulation of cell polarity and directed cell migration. Traction force microscopy (TFM) and paramagnetic bead-pull experiments will be used to define cell-cell adhesive forces required to maintain directional migration on FN. Low-light high-resolution imaging will also be used to correlate cytoskeletal dynamics with force application and traction stresses on the substrate. In the second aim, the roles of proteins involved in the cadherin-dependent mechanosensitive regulation of cell polarity and protrusive activity will be investigated using loss-of-function (e.g., antisense morpholinos) and biochemical approaches. The initial focus of these experiments will be proteins involved in linking cadherins to the intermediate filament cytoskeleton (e.g., plakoglobin, desmoplakin and other cell-cell junctional components). Collective cell migration is critical to the progression of a variety of normal physiological and pathological states that include embryonic development, wound healing, cancer and metastasis, inflammation, and a wide range of congenital birth defects. This proposal will seek to broaden our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in this important mode of cellular migration.

Public Health Relevance

Cell migration is a fundamental biological process that is critically important for a variety of processes including wound healing, proper functioning of the immune system, and the normal development of embryos. Figuring out how cells move is an important step toward understanding processes like wound healing and stopping the progression of diseases such as metastatic cancer, which involves the spread of cells from tumors to new locations in the body. This project will investigate a special form of cell migration that involves movements of cells in groups or sheets. We have identified a novel mechanism in these cells that depends on mechanical forces for normal movement and we now propose to identify the molecular steps involved in this process.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM094793-21
Application #
8304935
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-CB-J (02))
Program Officer
Flicker, Paula F
Project Start
1990-01-01
Project End
2014-06-30
Budget Start
2012-07-01
Budget End
2013-06-30
Support Year
21
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$406,630
Indirect Cost
$140,135
Name
University of Virginia
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
065391526
City
Charlottesville
State
VA
Country
United States
Zip Code
22904
Li, Jiejing; Perfetto, Mark; Neuner, Russell et al. (2018) Xenopus ADAM19 regulates Wnt signaling and neural crest specification by stabilizing ADAM13. Development 145:
Sonavane, Pooja R; Wang, Chong; Dzamba, Bette et al. (2017) Mechanical and signaling roles for keratin intermediate filaments in the assembly and morphogenesis of Xenopus mesendoderm tissue at gastrulation. Development 144:4363-4376
Rozario, Tania; Mead, Paul E; DeSimone, Douglas W (2014) Diverse functions of kindlin/fermitin proteins during embryonic development in Xenopus laevis. Mech Dev 133:203-17
Bjerke, Maureen A; Dzamba, Bette J; Wang, Chong et al. (2014) FAK is required for tension-dependent organization of collective cell movements in Xenopus mesendoderm. Dev Biol 394:340-56
DeSimone, Douglas W; Horwitz, A Rick (2014) Cell Biology. Many modes of motility. Science 345:1002-3
Weber, Gregory F; Bjerke, Maureen A; DeSimone, Douglas W (2012) A mechanoresponsive cadherin-keratin complex directs polarized protrusive behavior and collective cell migration. Dev Cell 22:104-15
Xu, Guofeng; Wei, Shuo; White, Judith M et al. (2012) Identification and characterization of ADAM41, a novel ADAM metalloproteinase in Xenopus. Int J Dev Biol 56:333-9
Batra, Nidhi; Burra, Sirisha; Siller-Jackson, Arlene J et al. (2012) Mechanical stress-activated integrin ?5?1 induces opening of connexin 43 hemichannels. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109:3359-64
Wei, Shuo; Xu, Guofeng; Bridges, Lance C et al. (2012) Roles of ADAM13-regulated Wnt activity in early Xenopus eye development. Dev Biol 363:147-54
Schwarzbauer, Jean E; DeSimone, Douglas W (2011) Fibronectins, their fibrillogenesis, and in vivo functions. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 3:

Showing the most recent 10 out of 12 publications