STUDY OF COLLECTIVE CELL MIGRATION IN DROSOPHILA MIDDLE OOGENESIS

Abstract

Collective cell migration is an essential process in animal development, tissue repair, and cancer metastasis. The current working model for collective cell migration is the “leader-follower” paradigm, which may underestimate the functional roles of followers. In this study, followers in follicle cell (FC) posterior migration during Drosophila middle-oogenesis was investigated through live imaging and optogenetics techniques. Results showed that Centripetal FCs, as followers, were activated by PVR/EGFR pathway through Rac/Ena. As a consequence, Centripetal FCs formed apical protrusions, grabbed on their substrate, and generated traction forces for their posterior migration. Meanwhile, their movement generated pushing forces on the front Mainbody FCs and pulling forces on the back Stretched FCs, thus governed the overall epithelial movement. In summary, this study reveals the active contributions of centripetal FCs, as followers in FC posterior migration, thus bring new insights into the mechanism of collective cell migration.