Filopodia and focal adhesions: An integrated system driving branching morphogenesis in neuronal pathfinding and angiogenesis.

ABSTRACT: Single cell branching during development in vertebrates is typified by neuronal branching to form neurites and vascular branches formed by sprouting angiogenesis. Neurons and endothelial tip cells possess subcellular protrusions that share many common features from the morphological to the molecular level. Both systems utilize filopodia as their cellular protrusion organelles and depend on specific integrin-mediated adhesions to the local extracellular matrix for guidance in their pathfinding. We discuss the similar molecular machineries involved in these two types of cell branch formation and use their analogy to propose a new mechanism for angiogenic filopodia function, namely as adhesion assembly sites. In support of this model we provide primary data of angiogenesis in zebrafish in viv

SUBMITTER: Fischer RS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7082808 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature