| First Author | Omelchenko T | Year | 2020 |
| Journal | Nat Commun | Volume | 11 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 6066 |
| PubMed ID | 33247143 | Mgi Jnum | J:299536 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6490035 | Doi | 10.1038/s41467-020-19889-1 |
| Citation | Omelchenko T, et al. (2020) beta-Pix-dependent cellular protrusions propel collective mesoderm migration in the mouse embryo. Nat Commun 11(1):6066 |
| abstractText | Coordinated directional migration of cells in the mesoderm layer of the early embryo is essential for organization of the body plan. Here we show that mesoderm organization in mouse embryos depends on beta-Pix (Arhgef7), a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rac1 and Cdc42. As early as E7.5, beta-Pix mutants have an abnormally thick mesoderm layer; later, paraxial mesoderm fails to organize into somites. To define the mechanism of action of beta-Pix in vivo, we optimize single-cell live-embryo imaging, cell tracking, and volumetric analysis of individual and groups of mesoderm cells. Use of these methods shows that wild-type cells move in the same direction as their neighbors, whereas adjacent beta-Pix mutant cells move in random directions. Wild-type mesoderm cells have long polarized filopodia-like protrusions, which are absent in beta-Pix mutants. The data indicate that beta-Pix-dependent cellular protrusions drive and coordinate collective migration of the mesoderm in vivo. |
