| First Author | Omelchenko T | Year | 2014 |
| Journal | Genes Dev | Volume | 28 |
| Issue | 24 | Pages | 2764-77 |
| PubMed ID | 25512563 | Mgi Jnum | J:217373 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5613820 | Doi | 10.1101/gad.251371.114 |
| Citation | Omelchenko T, et al. (2014) beta-Pix directs collective migration of anterior visceral endoderm cells in the early mouse embryo. Genes Dev 28(24):2764-77 |
| abstractText | Collective epithelial migration is important throughout embryonic development. The underlying mechanisms are poorly understood but likely involve spatially localized activation of Rho GTPases. We previously reported that Rac1 is essential for generating the protrusive activity that drives the collective migration of anterior visceral endoderm (AVE) cells in the early mouse embryo. To identify potential regulators of Rac1, we first performed an RNAi screen of Rho family exchange factors (guanine nucleotide exchange factor [GEF]) in an in vitro collective epithelial migration assay and identified beta-Pix. Genetic deletion of beta-Pix in mice disrupts collective AVE migration, while high-resolution live imaging revealed that this is associated with randomly directed protrusive activity. We conclude that beta-Pix controls the spatial localization of Rac1 activity to drive collective AVE migration at a critical stage in mouse development. |
