Modelling directional guidance and motility regulation in cell migration

Abstract

Although cell migration is an essential process in development, how cells reach their final destination is not well understood. Secreted molecules are known to have a migratory effect, but it remains unclear whether such molecules act as directional guidance cues or as motility regulators. There is potential to use signalling molecules in new medical therapies, so it is important to identify the exact role these molecules play. This paper focuses on distinguishing between inhibitory and repulsive effects produced by signalling molecules, based on recent experiments examining the effect of Slit, a secreted protein, on the migration of neurons from the brain. The primary role of Slit, whether ..