title: Reduction in E-cadherin expression fosters migration of Xenopus laevis primordial germ cells.
abstract: The transition from passive to active migration of primordial germ cells in Xenopus embryos correlates with a reduction in overall adhesion to surrounding endodermal cells as well as with reduced E-cadherin expression. Single cell force spectroscopy, in which cells are brought into brief contact with a gold surface functionalized with E-cadherin constructs, allows for a quantitative estimate of functional E-cadherin molecules on the cell surface. The adhesion force between migratory PGCs and the cadherin-coated surface was almost identical to cells where E-cadherin was knocked down by morpholino oligonucleotides (180 pN). In contrast, non-migratory PGCs display significantly higher adhesion forces (270 pN) on E-cadherin functionalised surfaces. On the basis of these observations, we propose that migration of PGCs in Xenopus embryos is regulated via modulation of E-cadherin expression levels, allowing these cells to move more freely if the level of E-cadherin is reduced.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical Chemistry, Tammannstr. 6, 37077 Göttingen, Germany. ajansho@gwdg.de.
authors.forename: Thilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baronsky
authors.affiliation: The Danish Stem Cell Center, Laboratory Blegdamsvej 3b, 2200 København N, Denmark.
authors.forename: Aliaksandr
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dzementsei
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical Chemistry, Tammannstr. 6, 37077 Göttingen, Germany. ajansho@gwdg.de.
authors.forename: Marieelen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oelkers
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Biochemistry, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August-University, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany. tpieler@gwdg.de.
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Melchert
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Biochemistry, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August-University, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany. tpieler@gwdg.de.
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pieler
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical Chemistry, Tammannstr. 6, 37077 Göttingen, Germany. ajansho@gwdg.de.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Janshoff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D000066473:Embryonic Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004707:Endoderm / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D059010:Single-Cell Analysis; D029867:Xenopus Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D029867:Xenopus Proteins