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Notch controls the cell cycle to define leader versus follower identities during collective cell migration.

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journal contribution
posted on 2022-05-26, 13:31 authored by Zain Alhashem, Dylan Feldner-Busztin, Christopher Revell, Macarena Alvarez-Garcillan Portillo, Karen Camargo-Sosa, Joanna Richardson, Manuel Rocha, Anton Gauert, Tatianna Corbeaux, Martina Milanetto, Francesco Argenton, Natascia Tiso, Robert N Kelsh, Victoria E Prince, Katie Bentley, Claudia Linker
Coordination of cell proliferation and migration is fundamental for life, and its dysregulation has catastrophic consequences, such as cancer. How cell cycle progression affects migration, and vice-versa, remains largely unknown. We address these questions by combining in-silico modelling and in vivo experimentation in the zebrafish Trunk Neural Crest (TNC). TNC migrate collectively, forming chains with a leader cell directing the movement of trailing followers. We show that the acquisition of migratory identity is autonomously controlled by Notch signalling in TNC. High Notch activity defines leaders, while low Notch determines followers. Moreover, cell cycle progression is required for TNC migration and is regulated by Notch. Cells with low Notch activity stay longer in G1 and become followers, while leaders with high Notch activity quickly undergo G1/S transition and remain in S-phase longer. In conclusion, TNC migratory identities are defined through the interaction of Notch signalling and cell cycle progression.

Funding

Crick (Grant ID: 10751, Grant title: Bentley FC001751)

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