[
International Worm Meeting,
2021]
The microtubule (MT) cytoskeleton plays key roles in cell migration via intracellular signaling and modulating cell adhesions and polarity. Within a cell, MTs emanate and grow from microtubule organizing centers (MTOCs), and the localization of an MTOC helps drive specific MT functions. In cultured migratory cells, the MTOC is canonically located at the centrosome with MTs growing towards the leading edge of the cell. in vivo cell migration studies, however, have identified variations in the MTOC site and MT organization, such as MTs radiating towards the trailing edge of the cell from the centrosome, or a broad MTOC at the trailing edge with MTs radiating towards the leading edge. The molecular factors governing MTOC site, and the impact of MT organization on the migratory functions, in vivo is unclear. During C. elegans development, the Sex Myoblasts (SM) are a pair of cells that undergo a long distance migration to the gonad. Utilizing the SM cells as an in vivo model, we are investigating the presence and function of non-centrosomal MTOCs in cell migration via live confocal imaging of intact animals. Through SM-specific, temporal and spatial MT degradation, we have found an essential role for MTs in SM cell migration. Upon MT degradation, the SM cells fail to fully migrate to the gonad. In addition, directional analysis of growing MTs has identified arrays of MTs running parallel to migration and a MTOC localized near the leading edge of the cell. In contrast to the canonical MT organization, this leading edge MTOC does not appear to be associated with the centrosome. These results highlight a MTOC and pattern of MT organization not typically associated with migratory cells. Further investigation into the significance of the MTs at the leading edge in association with cell adhesions and polarity proteins will provide insights into the mechanisms governing migration in vivo.