title: Chemical tools for studying directed cell migration.
abstract: Cell migration is required for many physiological processes, including wound repair and embryogenesis, and relies on precisely orchestrated events that are regulated in a spatially and temporally controlled manner. Most traditional approaches for studying migration, such as genetic methods or the use of chemical inhibitors, do not offer insight into these important components of protein function. However, chemical tools, which respond on a more rapid time scale and in localized regions of the cell, are capable of providing more detailed, real-time information. This Review describes these recent approaches to investigate cell migration and focuses on proteins that are activated by light or small molecules, as well as fluorescent sensors of protein activity.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Biology and Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States.
authors.forename: Brenda N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Goguen
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Imperiali
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites / Q000187:drug effects; D054443:Cell Migration Assays / Q000379:methods*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D011506:Proteins; D020123:Sirolimus