"How Do Cells Know Where to Go?"

James A. Glazier

Department of Physics
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, In 46556

Abstract

During embryonic development, cells need to migrate long distances through tissues. How do they know where to go? Two basic mechanisms are at work. Over long distances, cells secrete and follow gradients of diffusible chemicals (chemotaxis). Once they are approximately in the correct position, variable adhesion molecules expressed on their surfaces help them to form coherent structures by energy minimization (differential adhesion). A classic examples of chemotaxis is the aggregation of amoebae in slime mold, of cell sorting, the reorganization of a random clump of cells to form normal hydra. Failure of normal cell sorting may play a role in cancer metastasis. Simulations and quantitative experiments help disentangle these processes.