Grant: Operating Grant

Cell migration is a fundamental process in the embryo as well as in the adult organism. It contributes to normal development, but it is also a major factor in medically relevant processes such as tumour metastatis, the immune response, or wound healing. In the embryo, cells often have to migrate from their sites of origin to the places where they will eventually be required, and incorrect migration leads to aberrant development and congenital malformations. We study embryonic cell migration in a simple, inexpensive vertebrate model system, the African clawed frog. We ask how cells can migrate as part of a coherent tissue mass, a frequently encountered mode of cell movement. Furthermore, we examine mechanisms which prevent this migrating cell mass from invading adjacent tissues. We found that several genes involved in tumour progression are involved in the control of these migration and tissue separation processes, and we will continue to study their detailed function.