A negative-feedback loop maintains optimal chemokine concentrations for directional cell migration.

ABSTRACT: Chemoattractant gradients frequently guide migrating cells. To achieve the most directional signal, such gradients should be maintained with concentrations around the dissociation constant (K_d)^1-6 of the chemoreceptor. Whether this actually occurs in animals is unknown. Here we investigate whether a moving tissue, the zebrafish posterior lateral line primordium, buffers its attractant in this concentration range to achieve robust migration. We find that the Cxcl12 (also known as Sdf1) attractant gradient ranges from 0 to 12 nM, values similar to the 3.4 nM K_d of its receptor Cxcr4. When we increase the K_d of Cxcl12 for Cxcr4, primordium migration is less directional. Furthermore, a negative-feedback loop between Cxcl12 and its clearance receptor

SUBMITTER: Lau S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7809593 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature