Plasma membrane organization is essential for balancing competing pseudopod- and uropod-promoting signals during neutrophil polarization and migration.

ABSTRACT: Exposure of neutrophils to chemoattractant induces cell polarization and migration. These behaviors require the asymmetric activation of distinct signaling pathways and cytoskeletal elements in the protruding pseudopod at the front of cells and the retracting uropod at the rear. An important outstanding question is, how does the organization of the plasma membrane participate in establishing asymmetry during polarization and migration? To answer this question, we investigated the function of cholesterol, a lipid known to influence membrane organization. Using controlled cholesterol depletion, we found that a cholesterol-dependent membrane organization enabled cell polarization and migration by promoting uropod function and suppressing ectopic pseudopod formation. At a mechanistic level, we

SUBMITTER: Bodin S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1289420 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature