TY - JOUR TI - Dynamic filopodia are required for chemokine-dependent intracellular polarization during guided cell migration in vivo AU - Meyen, Dana AU - Tarbashevich, Katsiaryna AU - Banisch, Torsten U AU - Wittwer, Carolina AU - Reichman-Fried, Michal AU - Maugis, BenoƮt AU - Grimaldi, Cecilia AU - Messerschmidt, Esther-Maria AU - Raz, Erez A2 - Bronner, Marianne E VL - 4 PY - 2015 DA - 2015/04/15 SP - e05279 C1 - eLife 2015;4:e05279 DO - 10.7554/eLife.05279 UR - https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.05279 AB - Cell migration and polarization is controlled by signals in the environment. Migrating cells typically form filopodia that extend from the cell surface, but the precise function of these structures in cell polarization and guided migration is poorly understood. Using the in vivo model of zebrafish primordial germ cells for studying chemokine-directed single cell migration, we show that filopodia distribution and their dynamics are dictated by the gradient of the chemokine Cxcl12a. By specifically interfering with filopodia formation, we demonstrate for the first time that these protrusions play an important role in cell polarization by Cxcl12a, as manifested by elevation of intracellular pH and Rac1 activity at the cell front. The establishment of this polarity is at the basis of effective cell migration towards the target. Together, we show that filopodia allow the interpretation of the chemotactic gradient in vivo by directing single-cell polarization in response to the guidance cue. KW - chemotaxis KW - cell migration KW - chemokine KW - germ cell JF - eLife SN - 2050-084X PB - eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd ER -