FOR 629: Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Motility

该研究组的中心议题是分子马达、细胞黏附复合体的组成部分以及基于肌动蛋白和微管的细胞骨架之间的相互作用。这种复杂的相互作用及其受化学和机械信号的调节，在确定细胞的形状、运动性、粘附性和极性方面发挥了关键作用。在胚胎发育过程中，组织三维细胞组合导致组织和器官的形成是很重要的。移动性增强有助于肿瘤细胞的侵袭和转移。近年来，在确定驱动一系列运动事件的关键因素方面取得了相当大的进展，关于潜在分子机制的重要细节已经被揭示。然而，关于肌动蛋白细丝如何与微管和具有局灶性粘连的微管相互作用的信息仍然很少。

The central topic of the Research Unit is the interplay between molecular motors, the components of cell adhesion complexes, and the actin- and microtubule-based cytoskeleton. This complex interplay and its modulation by chemical and mechanical signals plays a key role in defining cell shape, motility, adhesion, and polarity. During embryogenesis, it is important for the organisation of three-dimensional cellular assemblies leading to the formation of tissues and organs. Increased motility contributes to invasion and metastasis of tumour cells. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in identifying the key players that drive a wide range of motile events and important details about the underlying molecular mechanisms have been revealed. However, information about the way in which actin filaments interact with microtubules and microtubules with focal adhesions is still scarce.