Chemotaxis: signalling the way forward.
During random locomotion, human neutrophils and Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae repeatedly extend and retract cytoplasmic processes. During directed cell migration--chemotaxis--these pseudopodia form predominantly at the leading edge in response to the local accumulation of certain signalling molecules. Concurrent changes in actin and myosin enable the cell to move towards the stimulus. Recent studies are beginning to identify an intricate network of signalling molecules that mediate these processes, and how these molecules become localized in the cell is now becoming clear.
Van Haastert
Peter J M
PJ
Department of Biochemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747AG Groningen, The Netherlands. haastert@chem.rug.nl
Devreotes
Peter N
PN
D000199:Actins / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000502:physiology*; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000502:physiology; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000502:physiology; D020962:Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
D000199:Actins; D020962:Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins