| First Author | Li Y | Year | 2020 |
| Journal | Dev Cell | Volume | 54 |
| Issue | 5 | Pages | 593-607.e5 |
| PubMed ID | 32668208 | Mgi Jnum | J:297057 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6471588 | Doi | 10.1016/j.devcel.2020.06.021 |
| Citation | Li Y, et al. (2020) Genetic Fate Mapping of Transient Cell Fate Reveals N-Cadherin Activity and Function in Tumor Metastasis. Dev Cell 54(5):593-607.e5 |
| abstractText | Genetic lineage tracing unravels cell fate and plasticity in development, tissue homeostasis, and diseases. However, it remains technically challenging to trace temporary or transient cell fate, such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in tumor metastasis. Here, we generated a genetic fate-mapping system for temporally seamless tracing of transient cell fate. Highlighting its immediate application, we used it to study EMT gene activity from the local primary tumor to a distant metastatic site in vivo. In a spontaneous breast-to-lung metastasis model, we found that primary tumor cells activated vimentin and N-cadherin in situ, but only N-cadherin was activated and functionally required during metastasis. Tumor cells that have ever expressed N-cadherin constituted the majority of metastases in lungs, and functional deletion of N-cad significantly reduced metastasis. The seamless genetic recording system described here provides an alternative way for understanding transient cell fate and plasticity in biological processes. |
