Fascin 1 is transiently expressed in mouse melanoblasts during development and promotes migration and proliferation

Ma, Y., Li, A., Faller, W.J., Libertini, S., Fiorito, F., Gillespie, D.A., Sansom, O.J. , Yamashiro, S. and Machesky, L.M. (2013) Fascin 1 is transiently expressed in mouse melanoblasts during development and promotes migration and proliferation. Development, 140(10), pp. 2203-2211. (doi: 10.1242/dev.089789)

Abstract

Fascins, a family of actin-bundling proteins, are expressed in a spatially and temporally restricted manner during development and often in cancer. Fascin 1 has a clear role in cell migration in vitro, but its role in vivo in mammals is not well understood. Here, we investigate the role of fascin 1 in the melanocyte lineage and in melanoma cells. Fascin 1 knockout causes hypopigmentation in adult mice owing to migration and cell cycle progression defects in melanoblasts, the melanocyte precursor cell. Study of live embryo skin explants reveals that E14.5 fascin 1-null melanoblasts migrate slower, and generate fewer and thinner pseudopods. By contrast, fascin 1 expression drives faster migration and lamellipodia protrusion in melanocytes in vitro. In addition, fascin 1 depletion retards melanoblast proliferation in vivo and melanoma cell growth in vitro. These data indicate that fascin 1 not only promotes cell migration in mouse melanocytes but it also has a role in growth and cell cycle progression.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Libertini, Dr Silvana and Li, Mr Ang and Gillespie, Professor David and Machesky, Professor Laura and Faller, Dr William and Ma, Dr Yafeng and Sansom, Professor Owen
• Authors: Ma, Y., Li, A., Faller, W.J., Libertini, S., Fiorito, F., Gillespie, D.A., Sansom, O.J., Yamashiro, S., and Machesky, L.M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences
• Journal Name: Development
• Publisher: The Company of Biologists Ltd
• ISSN: 0950-1991
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2013 The Company of Biologists Ltd
• First Published: First published in Development 140(10):2203-2211
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License