title: Identification of novel pro-migratory, cancer-associated genes using quantitative, microscopy-based screening.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cell migration is a highly complex process, regulated by multiple genes, signaling pathways and external stimuli. To discover genes or pharmacological agents that can modulate the migratory activity of cells, screening strategies that enable the monitoring of diverse migratory parameters in a large number of samples are necessary.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, we describe the development of a quantitative, high-throughput cell migration assay, based on a modified phagokinetic tracks (PKT) procedure, and apply it for identifying novel pro-migratory genes in a cancer-related gene library. In brief, cells are seeded on fibronectin-coated 96-well plates, covered with a monolayer of carboxylated latex beads. Motile cells clear the beads, located along their migratory paths, forming tracks that are visualized using an automated, transmitted-light screening microscope. The tracks are then segmented and characterized by multi-parametric, morphometric analysis, resolving a variety of morphological and kinetic features.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this screen we identified 4 novel genes derived from breast carcinoma related cDNA library, whose over-expression induces major alteration in the migration of the stationary MCF7 cells. This approach can serve for high throughput screening for novel ways to modulate cellular migration in pathological states such as tumor metastasis and invasion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Suha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naffar-Abu-Amara
authors.forename: Tal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shay
authors.forename: Meirav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galun
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Isakoff
authors.forename: Zvi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kam
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Geiger
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000235:genetics*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology