Cell migration and invasion are fundamental cellular processes, essential for development, wound healing, immune response, and cancer metastasis. In vivo, cells invade as single cells or multicellular chains or sheets, along tracks of extracellular matrix, neurons, blood vessels, or underlying tissue. The molecular forces that bring about movement are controlled by the cell membrane, cytoskeleton, and adhesions to the extracellular substrate. Chemical and mechanical signals control the efficiency, timing, and direction of force generation. Deciphering these signals, how they promote migration, and how they are integrated by cells to navigate complex environments, sets the stage for the development of therapies to control aberrant migration.
Resolving how cells integrate and respond to multiple chemical and physical signals has been a major research challenge. Recent advances in the use of biosensors for signaling pathways and cytoskeleton dynamics, computer vision, and computational modeling are providing new insight into how cells adapt to move through their environment. This collection aims to uncover the latest discoveries in signaling for cell migration and invasion and highlight the areas requiring continued investigation and innovation.
We welcome submission covering, but not limited to, the following:
• Migration signal sensing
• Signaling networks
• Chemical and mechanical signal integration
• Biochemical signaling (Rac/Rho, RAS, PI3K, ERK, mTOR, ROCK, MRCK, LIMK, PAK, PKA, FAK, etc.)
• Outside-in integrin signaling (sensing forces), mechanical signal transduction
• Inside-out integrin signaling
• Membrane tension
• The nucleus, as a rate limiting factor for migration
• Regulation of the cytoskeleton (actin, microtubules, myosin II, etc.)
• 3D invasion
• Guidance cues in the microenvironment
• Computational modeling
Cell migration and invasion are fundamental cellular processes, essential for development, wound healing, immune response, and cancer metastasis. In vivo, cells invade as single cells or multicellular chains or sheets, along tracks of extracellular matrix, neurons, blood vessels, or underlying tissue. The molecular forces that bring about movement are controlled by the cell membrane, cytoskeleton, and adhesions to the extracellular substrate. Chemical and mechanical signals control the efficiency, timing, and direction of force generation. Deciphering these signals, how they promote migration, and how they are integrated by cells to navigate complex environments, sets the stage for the development of therapies to control aberrant migration.
Resolving how cells integrate and respond to multiple chemical and physical signals has been a major research challenge. Recent advances in the use of biosensors for signaling pathways and cytoskeleton dynamics, computer vision, and computational modeling are providing new insight into how cells adapt to move through their environment. This collection aims to uncover the latest discoveries in signaling for cell migration and invasion and highlight the areas requiring continued investigation and innovation.
We welcome submission covering, but not limited to, the following:
• Migration signal sensing
• Signaling networks
• Chemical and mechanical signal integration
• Biochemical signaling (Rac/Rho, RAS, PI3K, ERK, mTOR, ROCK, MRCK, LIMK, PAK, PKA, FAK, etc.)
• Outside-in integrin signaling (sensing forces), mechanical signal transduction
• Inside-out integrin signaling
• Membrane tension
• The nucleus, as a rate limiting factor for migration
• Regulation of the cytoskeleton (actin, microtubules, myosin II, etc.)
• 3D invasion
• Guidance cues in the microenvironment
• Computational modeling