On Nov 17th 2017, Dr. Peter N. Devreotes from John Hopkins University, invited by Prof. Huaqing Cai, visited IBP and gave a BEI Shizhang Lecture entitled “ Excitable Networks in Directed Cell Migration”.

The Devreotes lab focuses on understanding how cells perform directed migration, a process that is critical for morphogenesis, immune response, and is exploited in disease states such as cancer metastasis. In the lecture, Peter shows that the cytoskeletal network, involving SCAR/WAVE, Arp 2/3 and actin-binding proteins, is capable of generating rapid oscillations and undulations of the cell boundary. The signal transduction network, comprising multiple pathways that include Ras GTPases, PI3K and Rac GTPases, is required to generate the sustained protrusions of migrating cells. The signal transduction network is excitable, exhibiting wave propagation, refractoriness and maximal response to suprathreshold stimuli, even in the absence of the cytoskeleton. They suggest that cell motility results from the coupling of pacemaker signal transduction and idling motor cytoskeletal networks. Furthermore, various guidance cues that modulate the threshold for triggering signal transduction events are integrated to control the mode and direction of cell migration.