Chemotaxis of Drosophila Border Cells is Modulated by Tissue Geometry Through Dispersion of Chemoattractants

dc.contributor.authorGeorge, Alexander
dc.contributor.authorAkhavan, Naghmeh
dc.contributor.authorPeercy, Bradford
dc.contributor.authorStarz-Gaiano, Michelle
dc.date.accessioned2025-03-11T14:42:30Z
dc.date.available2025-03-11T14:42:30Z
dc.date.issued2025-02-05
dc.description.abstractMigratory cells respond to graded concentrations of diffusible chemoattractants in vitro, but how complex tissue geometries in vivo impact chemotaxis is poorly understood. To address this, we studied the Drosophila border cells. Live-imaged border cells varied in their chemotactic migration speeds, which correlated positionally with distinct architectures. We then developed a reduced mathematical model to determine how chemoattractant distribution is affected by tissue architecture. Larger extracellular volumes locally dampened the chemoattractant gradient and, when coupled with an agent-based motion of the cluster, reduced cell speeds. This suggests that chemoattractant levels vary by tissue architectures, informing cell migration behaviors locally, which we tested in vivo. Genetically elevating chemoattractant levels slowed migration in specific architectural regions, while mutants with spacious tissue structure rescued defects from high chemoattractant levels, promoting punctual migration. Our results highlight the interplay between tissue geometry and the local distribution of signaling molecules to orchestrate cell migration.
dc.description.sponsorshipWe acknowledge funding from NSF DMS #1953423 to B.E.P. and M.S.-G., NSF IOS #2303587 to M.S.-G. and MERCK SHARP and DOHM LLC funding for N.A. For providing commercial fly stocks, we thank the Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center (NIH P40OD018537) and we thank Dr. Trudi Dr. Schupbach for gifting us critical mutant fly lines. We thank FlyBase (release € FB2024_05)56 for all their resources
dc.description.urihttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225002196
dc.format.extent20 pages
dc.genrejournal articles
dc.identifierdoi:10.13016/m2tbb6-zvnt
dc.identifier.citationGeorge, Alexander, Naghmeh Akhavan, Bradford E. Peercy, and Michelle Starz-Gaiano. "Chemotaxis of Drosophila Border Cells Is Modulated by Tissue Geometry Through Dispersion of Chemoattractants". iScience. February 5, 2025, 111959. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2025.111959.
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2025.111959
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11603/37740
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherElsevier
dc.relation.isAvailableAtThe University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
dc.relation.ispartofUMBC Biological Sciences Department
dc.relation.ispartofUMBC Student Collection
dc.relation.ispartofUMBC Mathematics and Statistics Department
dc.relation.ispartofUMBC Faculty Collection
dc.rightsAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
dc.subjectchemoattractant
dc.subjectDrosophila border cell migration
dc.subjectchemotaxis
dc.subjectmathematical modeling
dc.subjectgrowth factor signaling
dc.subjectthree-dimensional migration
dc.subjectDrosophila oogenesis
dc.subjectcollective cell migration
dc.titleChemotaxis of Drosophila Border Cells is Modulated by Tissue Geometry Through Dispersion of Chemoattractants
dc.typeText
dcterms.creatorhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9474-4486
dcterms.creatorhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8597-2508
dcterms.creatorhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0855-0715

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