Regulating distal tip cell migration in space and time

CCDC-55 is required for larval development and distal tip cell migration in Caenorhabditis elegans

The Caenorhabditis elegans distal tip cells (DTCs) are an in vivo model for the study of developmentally regulated cell migration. In this study, we characterize a novel role for CCDC-55, a conserved coiled-coil domain containing protein, in DTC migration and larval development in C. elegans. Although animals homozygous for a probable null allele, ccdc-55(ok2851), display an early larval arrest...

Cell Migration: GSK3β Steers the Cytoskeleton's Tip

Directed cell migration polarizes the cytoskeleton, allowing the cell to move toward migratory cues. In this issue, Wu et al. (2011) demonstrate that the glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) controls microtubule architecture and polarized movement of skin stem cells during wound healing in mammals by regulating the microtubule crosslinking protein ACF7.

Regulating cell migration: calpains make the cut.

The calpain family of proteases has been implicated in cellular processes such as apoptosis, proliferation and cell migration. Calpains are involved in several key aspects of migration, including: adhesion and spreading; detachment of the rear; integrin- and growth-factor-mediated signaling; and membrane protrusion. Our understanding of how calpains are activated and regulated during cell migra...

Self-regulating tip growth Modelling cell wall ageing

Mutations affecting symmetrical migration of distal tip cells in Caenorhabditis elegans.

The rotational symmetry of the Caenorhabditis elegans gonad arms is generated by the symmetrical migration of two distal tip cells (DTCs), located on the anterior and posterior ends of the gonad primordium. Mutations that cause asymmetrical migration of the two DTCs were isolated. All seven mutations were recessive and assigned to six different complementation groups. vab-3(k121) and vab-3(k143...