Function of Rho GTPases in embryonic blood cell migration inDrosophila

Function of Rho GTPases in embryonic blood cell migration in Drosophila.

Hemocyte development in the Drosophila embryo is a genetic model to study blood cell differentiation, cell migration and phagocytosis. Macrophages, which make up the majority of embryonic hemocytes, migrate extensively as individual cells on basement membrane-covered surfaces. The molecular mechanisms that contribute to this migration process are currently not well understood. We report the gen...

Cell migration: Rho GTPases lead the way.

Rho GTPases control signal transduction pathways that link cell surface receptors to a variety of intracellular responses. They are best known as regulators of the actin cytoskeleton, but in addition they control cell polarity, gene expression, microtubule dynamics and vesicular trafficking. Through these diverse functions, Rho GTPases influence many aspects of cell behavior. This review will f...

Live show of Rho GTPases in cell migration.

Rho GTPases, including RhoA, Rac1 and Cdc42, are key regulators of cell migration in animals. In a recent issue of Nature, two papers present delicate studies on precise roles and spatiotemporal coordination of Rho GTPases in live cells, using either a photoactivatable Rac1 or specific biosensors, together with computational multiplexing method. In addition to implications in cell migration, an...

Targeting Rho-GTPases in immune cell migration and inflammation

UNLABELLED Leukocytes are unmatched migrators capable of traversing barriers and tissues of remarkably varied structural composition. An effective immune response relies on the ability of its constituent cells to infiltrate target sites. Yet, unwarranted mobilization of immune cells can lead to inflammatory diseases and tissue damage ranging in severity from mild to life-threatening. The effica...

Rho-GTPases in Embryonic Stem Cells