Vav2-mediated cell migration

公开发行提案摘要 细胞移动的能力是所有物种共同的基本过程，从人类到看不见的微生物。不同物种用于细胞运动的策略是高度保守的，因此研究人类细胞如何运动将有助于了解微生物如何运动，反之亦然。细胞的运动，也被称为细胞迁移，是生命的各个方面所必需的，从胚胎如何分裂到我们手上的伤口如何愈合，再到为什么我们体内的所有细胞都粘在一起。参与细胞迁移的机制在物种中是保守的，因为许多介导运动所需的蛋白质也是保守的。这些蛋白质通过相互通信引起细胞的运动，从而在整个细胞中传递信息，告诉它何时移动/停留/改变形状/向相反方向移动或停止。 我的研究团队最近发现了一组通过直接身体接触相互交流的蛋白质。我们目前正在研究这种新的蛋白质相互作用意味着什么，以及新的通信管道如何能够改变细胞的行为。 我们通过实验发现的东西将提供对细胞如何在分子水平上运动的深入了解，并提供改变细胞运动的可能策略。

SUMMARY OF PROPOSAL FOR PUBLIC RELEASE   The ability of cells to move is a fundamental process common to all species, from humans to the invisible microbes. The strategies used for cell movement by the different species are highly conserved such that studying how a human cell moves will help to understand how microbes move and vice versa. The movement of cells, also referred to as cellular migration is required for all aspects of life, from how the embryo divides to how a wound heals on our hand, to why all the cells in our body stick together. The reason why the mechanisms involved in cellular migration are conserved amongst the species is because many of the proteins required to mediate movement are conserved as well. These proteins cause the movement of a cell by communicating with each other such that messages are transmitted throughout the cell telling it when to move/stay/change shape/move in the opposite direction or just stop.    My research team has recently discovered a group of proteins that communicate with each other by direct physical contact. We are currently studying what this new protein interaction means and how the new communication conduit is able to change the behaviour of the cell.  What we uncover with our experiments will provide insight into how cells move at a molecular level and provide a possible strategy to alter the movement of cells.