Nodal signaling regulates endodermal cell motility and actin dynamics via Rac1 and Prex1.

ABSTRACT: Embryo morphogenesis is driven by dynamic cell behaviors, including migration, that are coordinated with fate specification and differentiation, but how such coordination is achieved remains poorly understood. During zebrafish gastrulation, endodermal cells sequentially exhibit first random, nonpersistent migration followed by oriented, persistent migration and finally collective migration. Using a novel transgenic line that labels the endodermal actin cytoskeleton, we found that these stage-dependent changes in migratory behavior correlated with changes in actin dynamics. The dynamic actin and random motility exhibited during early gastrulation were dependent on both Nodal and Rac1 signaling. We further identified the Rac-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor Prex1 as a Nodal target

SUBMITTER: Woo S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3432772 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature