title: Dynamic filopodia are required for chemokine-dependent intracellular polarization during guided cell migration in vivo.
abstract: Cell migration and polarization is controlled by signals in the environment. Migrating cells typically form filopodia that extend from the cell surface, but the precise function of these structures in cell polarization and guided migration is poorly understood. Using the in vivo model of zebrafish primordial germ cells for studying chemokine-directed single cell migration, we show that filopodia distribution and their dynamics are dictated by the gradient of the chemokine Cxcl12a. By specifically interfering with filopodia formation, we demonstrate for the first time that these protrusions play an important role in cell polarization by Cxcl12a, as manifested by elevation of intracellular pH and Rac1 activity at the cell front. The establishment of this polarity is at the basis of effective cell migration towards the target. Together, we show that filopodia allow the interpretation of the chemotactic gradient in vivo by directing single-cell polarization in response to the guidance cue.
authors: Institute for Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation, Münster University, Münster, Germany.
authors: Dana
authors: D
authors: Meyen
authors: Institute for Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation, Münster University, Münster, Germany.
authors: Katsiaryna
authors: K
authors: Tarbashevich
authors: Institute for Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation, Münster University, Münster, Germany.
authors: Torsten U
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9995-1580
authors: TU
authors: Banisch
authors: Institute for Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation, Münster University, Münster, Germany.
authors: Carolina
authors: C
authors: Wittwer
authors: Institute for Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation, Münster University, Münster, Germany.
authors: Michal
authors: M
authors: Reichman-Fried
authors: Institute for Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation, Münster University, Münster, Germany.
authors: Benoît
authors: B
authors: Maugis
authors: Institute for Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation, Münster University, Münster, Germany.
authors: Cecilia
authors: C
authors: Grimaldi
authors: Institute for Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation, Münster University, Münster, Germany.
authors: Esther-Maria
authors: EM
authors: Messerschmidt
authors: Institute for Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation, Münster University, Münster, Germany.
authors: Erez
authors: E
authors: Raz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D016764:Cell Polarity; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D011554:Pseudopodia / Q000378:metabolism*; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000378:metabolism; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C471276:CXCR4b protein, zebrafish; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C579453:cxcl12a protein, zebrafish
keywords: cell migration; chemokine; chemotaxis; developmental biology; germ cell; stem cells; zebrafish