Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
20
Genes that Control Cell
Migration during Mouse
Development
Carmen Birchmeier
Cell migration is an important and frequent process in development, and the
molecules that control migration events have received much attention. Of
particular interest is the molecular nature of signals responsible for the release
of cells from their origin, for the maintenance of cellular motility, or for target
finding. Tyrosine kinase receptors play important roles in migration processes
in development and metastasis. I have reviewed here evidence from my
laboratory that demonstrated that tyrosine kinase receptors implicated in
tumorigenesis, like the c-ErbB or c-Met, turn out to control decisive steps in
migration of embryonic cells in vivo.
Introduction
During development, cell migration is an important process and it is
frequently observed that cells are born at one position and subsequently
move to their final locations. In development, migration events are tightly
controlled. Cells are released at defined stages and positions, and they move
along defined routes to their particular target sites. Molecules that control
such migration events have received much attention. Of particular interest is
the molecular nature of signals responsible for the release of the cells, for the
