New Insights into Cell Migration and Tissue Morphogenesis in Zebrafish
Organization of epithelial cell rosettes around zones of cell-cell contacts (red). Individual cell rosettes separate from the surrounding tissue and form neuromasts, sensors that are located at different points along the fish body surface, which detect water flow and movements. (Photo: David Hava/Copyright: MDC)<br>
They studied the development of the lateral line organ in zebrafish, a sensory system found in fish and amphibians which serves to detect water flow and movements. Their findings show that two genes regulate cell organization within this epithelial tissue, which is found at different points along the fish body surface. Both genes also play a role in cancer development. (Journal of Cell Science, 10. February 10, 2009, doi: 10.1242/jcs.032102)*.
The study of David Hava, Dr. Ulrike Forster and Dr. Salim Abdelilah-Seyfried focused on the formation of cellular rosettes within an epithelial tissue and their separation from it. Normally, each cellular rosette gives rise to a neuromast, a sensor whose function it is to detect water flow movements.
The researchers have described for the first time the cellular machinery that is needed to form these epithelial cell rosettes within a compact migratory tissue.
Their research demonstrates that two genes have an important function in the formation of cellular rosettes: namely, to allow cells within the rosettes to adhere more strongly to each other than to the cells of the surrounding tissue. However, if one of the genes is lacking, the cells within the rosettes adhere to each other less strongly and the rosettes can no longer separate entirely from the surrounding tissue. As a consequence, fewer sensors develop.
Cell migration is not only significant for embryonic development but also in the development of cancer. Being a vertebrate, the tiny zebrafish shares many of the features of human systems which is why scientists use it as a model organism for studying vertebrate development and disease.
Barbara Bachtler
Press and Public Affairs
Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch
Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10; 13125 Berlin; Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 30 94 06 – 38 96
Fax: +49 (0) 30 94 06 – 38 33
e-mail: presse@mdc-berlin.de
Media Contact
All latest news from the category: Life Sciences and Chemistry
Articles and reports from the Life Sciences and chemistry area deal with applied and basic research into modern biology, chemistry and human medicine.
Valuable information can be found on a range of life sciences fields including bacteriology, biochemistry, bionics, bioinformatics, biophysics, biotechnology, genetics, geobotany, human biology, marine biology, microbiology, molecular biology, cellular biology, zoology, bioinorganic chemistry, microchemistry and environmental chemistry.
Newest articles
Pinpointing hydrogen isotopes in titanium hydride nanofilms
Although it is the smallest and lightest atom, hydrogen can have a big impact by infiltrating other materials and affecting their properties, such as superconductivity and metal-insulator-transitions. Now, researchers from…
A new way of entangling light and sound
For a wide variety of emerging quantum technologies, such as secure quantum communications and quantum computing, quantum entanglement is a prerequisite. Scientists at the Max-Planck-Institute for the Science of Light…
Telescope for NASA’s Roman Mission complete, delivered to Goddard
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is one giant step closer to unlocking the mysteries of the universe. The mission has now received its final major delivery: the Optical Telescope…