Cell migration: regulation of cytoskeleton by Rap1 in Dictyostelium discoideum

J Microbiol. 2012 Aug;50(4):555-61. doi: 10.1007/s12275-012-2246-7. Epub 2012 Aug 25.

Abstract

Cell movement involves a coordinated regulation of the cytoskeleton, F-actin-mediated protrusions at the front and myosin-mediated contraction of the posterior of a cell. The small GTPase Rap1 functions as a key regulator in the spatial and temporal control of cytoskeleton reorganization for cell migration. This review outlines the establishment of cell polarity by differential localizations of the cytoskeleton and discusses the spatial and temporal regulation of cytoskeleton reorganization via the Rap1 signaling pathway during chemotaxis with a focus on recent advances in the study of chemotaxis using a simple eukaryotic model organism, Dictyostelium discoideum.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cell Movement
  • Chemotaxis
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cytoskeleton / metabolism*
  • Dictyostelium / metabolism
  • Dictyostelium / physiology*
  • Protozoan Proteins / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • rap1 GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • rap1 GTP-Binding Proteins