Table 1.
Comparing collective cell migration across different models
ModelChemoattractantLeader/ followerRac activation at leader cellTraction substrateCadherin subtypeCIL/contact- dependent polarityGradient of chemoattractant
Border cell PVF/EGF (1–4) Gurken(2) Yes (5) Dynamically rearranged (5,6) Yes (7–10) E-cadherin (7,11) E-cadherin (7,11) Yes Observations of contact-dependent cell polarity (5) Active suppression of internal protrusions (12) and Rac1 polarization (7) Not yet elucidated PVF-1 protein is expressed in the oocyte (2), and Krn and Spi mRNAs are also detected in the oocyte (3) 
Lateral line CXCL12/SDF-1 (13–15) Yes (14) Dynamic rearrangements not yet elucidated Not yet elucidated Not yet elucidated E-cadherin (16) N-cadherin (17) Yes Observations of contact-dependent cell polarity (14,18) Yes Self-generated SDF-1 gradient (13) Moving source of FGF: anterior lateral line (19) 
Branching morphogenesis Drosophila Trachea: Branchless (20–22) Mouse retina: VEGF (23) Yes Specified by Btl/VEGF signaling levels (22–25), dynamic rearrangements may occur (26–29) Yes Drosophila trachea (24,30) Mouse retina: not yet elucidated Mouse retina: FN ECM (31) Drosophila trachea: E-cadherin (32,33) Mouse retina: VE-cadherin (29) Yes Observations of contact-dependent cell polarity and Rac1 polarization (24) Yes Drosophila trachea: O-sulfotransferases sulfateless and sugarless genetically interact with branchless (34), although gradient not yet elucidated Mouse hindbrain: VEGF isoforms binding to ECM create a gradient of VEGF protein (35) 
Neural crest CXCL12/SDF-1 (36–39) VEGF (55) Yes (40,41) Dynamically rearranged (42) Yes (36,41,43,44) Fibronectin ECM (45–47) N-cadherin (36, 37,41,42) Yes Mediated by N-cadherin and Wnt/PCP (36,37,40) Rac1 polarization and suppression of protrusions at internal contacts (36,40,41) Yes Moving source of SDF-1: epibranchial placodes (37) VEGF gradient suggested (55) 
Mesendoderm PDGF (48–50) No All cells in the collective form oriented unipolar protrusions (48,51) Yes Rac required for protrusion formation in zebrafish (52) Xenopus: FN ECM (51,53) Zebrafish: E-cadherin (52,54) E-cadherin (52,54), C-cadherin (56) Yes Mediated by E-cadherin and Wnt/PCP via Rac1 (52) Tension-dependent polarization mediated by C-cadherin (56) Not yet elucidated. PDGF mRNA expressed in roof plate but protein localization not yet investigated (49,50) 
ModelChemoattractantLeader/ followerRac activation at leader cellTraction substrateCadherin subtypeCIL/contact- dependent polarityGradient of chemoattractant
Border cell PVF/EGF (1–4) Gurken(2) Yes (5) Dynamically rearranged (5,6) Yes (7–10) E-cadherin (7,11) E-cadherin (7,11) Yes Observations of contact-dependent cell polarity (5) Active suppression of internal protrusions (12) and Rac1 polarization (7) Not yet elucidated PVF-1 protein is expressed in the oocyte (2), and Krn and Spi mRNAs are also detected in the oocyte (3) 
Lateral line CXCL12/SDF-1 (13–15) Yes (14) Dynamic rearrangements not yet elucidated Not yet elucidated Not yet elucidated E-cadherin (16) N-cadherin (17) Yes Observations of contact-dependent cell polarity (14,18) Yes Self-generated SDF-1 gradient (13) Moving source of FGF: anterior lateral line (19) 
Branching morphogenesis Drosophila Trachea: Branchless (20–22) Mouse retina: VEGF (23) Yes Specified by Btl/VEGF signaling levels (22–25), dynamic rearrangements may occur (26–29) Yes Drosophila trachea (24,30) Mouse retina: not yet elucidated Mouse retina: FN ECM (31) Drosophila trachea: E-cadherin (32,33) Mouse retina: VE-cadherin (29) Yes Observations of contact-dependent cell polarity and Rac1 polarization (24) Yes Drosophila trachea: O-sulfotransferases sulfateless and sugarless genetically interact with branchless (34), although gradient not yet elucidated Mouse hindbrain: VEGF isoforms binding to ECM create a gradient of VEGF protein (35) 
Neural crest CXCL12/SDF-1 (36–39) VEGF (55) Yes (40,41) Dynamically rearranged (42) Yes (36,41,43,44) Fibronectin ECM (45–47) N-cadherin (36, 37,41,42) Yes Mediated by N-cadherin and Wnt/PCP (36,37,40) Rac1 polarization and suppression of protrusions at internal contacts (36,40,41) Yes Moving source of SDF-1: epibranchial placodes (37) VEGF gradient suggested (55) 
Mesendoderm PDGF (48–50) No All cells in the collective form oriented unipolar protrusions (48,51) Yes Rac required for protrusion formation in zebrafish (52) Xenopus: FN ECM (51,53) Zebrafish: E-cadherin (52,54) E-cadherin (52,54), C-cadherin (56) Yes Mediated by E-cadherin and Wnt/PCP via Rac1 (52) Tension-dependent polarization mediated by C-cadherin (56) Not yet elucidated. PDGF mRNA expressed in roof plate but protein localization not yet investigated (49,50) 

(1) Duchek and Rørth, 2001; (2) Duchek et al., 2001; (3) McDonald et al., 2006; (4) McDonald et al., 2003; (5) Prasad and Montell, 2007; (6) Bianco et al., 2007; (7) Cai et al., 2014; (8) Ramel et al., 2013; (9) Wang et al., 2010; (10) Fernández-Espartero et al., 2013; (11) Niewiadomska et al., 1999; (12) Lucas et al., 2013; (13) Donà et al., 2013; (14) Haas and Gilmour, 2006; (15) Valentin et al., 2007; (16) Matsuda and Chitnis, 2010; (17) Revenu et al., 2014; (18) Lecaudey et al., 2008; (19) Dalle Nogare et al., 2014; (20) Sutherland et al., 1996; (21) Klämbt et al., 1992; (22) Ghabrial and Krasnow, 2006; (23) Gerhardt et al., 2003; (24) Lebreton and Casanova, 2014; (25) Hellström et al., 2007; (26) Arima et al., 2011; (27) Jakobsson et al., 2010; (28) Caussinus et al., 2008; (29) Bentley et al., 2014; (30) Chihara et al., 2003; (31) Stenzel et al., 2011b; (32) Cela and Llimargas, 2006; (33) Shaye et al., 2008; (34) Lin et al., 1999; (35) Ruhrberg et al., 2002; (36) Theveneau et al., 2010; (37) Theveneau et al., 2013; (38) Belmadani et al., 2005; (39) Olesnicky Killian et al., 2009; (40) Carmona-Fontaine et al., 2008; (41) Scarpa et al., 2015; (42) Kuriyama et al., 2014; (43) Carmona-Fontaine et al., 2011; (44) Moore et al., 2013; (45) Alfandari et al., 2003; (46) Kil et al., 1996; (47) Lallier et al., 1992; (48) Montero et al., 2003; (49) Damm and Winklbauer, 2011; (50) Nagel et al., 2004; (51) Davidson et al., 2002; (52) Dumortier et al., 2012; (53) Boucaut and Darribere, 1983; (54) Montero et al., 2005; (55) McLennan and Kulesa, 2010; (56) Weber et al., 2012.

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