Molecular Mechanisms Controlling Adhesion Dynamics During Cell Migration

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Cell migration is central to many fundamental biological processes such as tissue organization, neural development, wound healing and the immune response. Much that is known about cell migration has been learned from biochemical assays on cellular components and global measurements on cellular dynamics and migration speeds. However, to date the molecular mechanisms that regulate cell migration are not well understood. The main reason for this is that there has been a general lack of technologies readily available for researchers to study molecular dynamics and interactions within living cells. My research program focuses on the development and application of advance light microscopy technologies that can measure molecular dynamics and interactions in intact, living, migrating cells. In order to move along a surface, cells must create adhesive patches on the substrate they are moving over. These patches have to be sticky or strong enough for the cell to generate traction and move, but not so strong that the cell cannot move at all. Therefore, there needs to be a tight control on when and where these adhesions form and disassemble so the cell can advance forward. I will apply advanced light microscopy techniques to some of the key molecules that appear to be acting as switches controlling when cells move quickly and when they form large adhesions and stop moving. I will look at these molecules and determine the mechanisms they use to regulate cell movement. The molecular details we uncover will lead to new and more refined models of how cell migration is regulated. The advanced microscopy tools I develop will be useful to researchers in other fields studying the molecular mechanism of diverse biological processes.