Analysis of the formation and function of different cell protrusion types during cell migration in vivo

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Cell protrusions play a central role in cell movement. The formation and function of cell protrusions in tissue culture cells on two-dimensional substrates has already been extensively analyzed. However, an increasing number of observations suggest that cells in three-dimensional environments form a much wider variety of protrusions, the formation and function of which is yet only poorly understood. To obtain insights into the generation and function of these different types of cell protrusions during threedimensional cell migration in vivo, we propose to analyze cell protrusion formation and movements of mesoderm and endoderm (mesendoderm) germ layer progenitor cells during zebrafish gastrulation. Towards this aim, we will (1) analyze the role of the cytoskeleton and cell adhesion in the formation of different types of progenitor cell protrusions, (2) determine the function of different protrusion types in progenitor cell movements during gastrulation, and (3) develop theoretical models that, based on the specific mechanical and adhesive progenitor cell properties, predict the formation of different cell protrusion types. We expect that this study wilt provide novel insights into the formation and function of different types of cellular protrusions for cell migration in vivo.