Cell polarity refers to the asymmetric distribution of cellular components along defined axes, which constitutes a fundamental property of most animal cells. The ability of cells to generate a specific spatially biased biochemical and morphological organization in response to specific extracellular or intracellular cues is critical for development and for most cell and tissue functions, including directional cell migration, epithelial secretory and absorptive functions, control of epithelial cell growth, immune response, and neuron function. The attainment of the specific, time and spatially organized cell asymmetry is triggered by different signals in each particular system, but orchestrated by common cellular events that comprise major rearrangements of the cytoskeleton, polarized membrane trafficking and the activation of compartmentalized cell signaling pathways.
This research topic aims to get an interdisciplinary insight into how the elements that are crucial and common to the development and maintenance of the different types of cell polarity are regulated and integrated in the different cellular contexts and developmental circumstances, highlighting the common features and the variances of the mechanisms implicated for each case. Those common “polarity elements” include, though are not limited to:
- The Par, Crumbs, and Scribble complexes;
- The Rho family of small GTPases;
- Actin and microtubule cytoskeleton;
- The Golgi apparatus and the endosomal system.
The scope of this research topic covers recent advances in understanding the regulation and mutual crosstalk between those “polarity elements” in animal cells, during the development of:
? Planar and apico-basal epithelial polarity;
? Ciliogenesis;
? Front-rear migratory polarity and cell migration;
? Immunological synapse;
? Neuronal polarity.
It is our interest that the article comprises the discussion on which are the common features and the variances of the mechanisms addressed for the different types of cell polarity, or for different phenotypes within the same type of cell polarity, in the context of the current knowledge.
Type of manuscripts: Original Research, Brief Research Reports, Methods and Reviews.
Cell polarity refers to the asymmetric distribution of cellular components along defined axes, which constitutes a fundamental property of most animal cells. The ability of cells to generate a specific spatially biased biochemical and morphological organization in response to specific extracellular or intracellular cues is critical for development and for most cell and tissue functions, including directional cell migration, epithelial secretory and absorptive functions, control of epithelial cell growth, immune response, and neuron function. The attainment of the specific, time and spatially organized cell asymmetry is triggered by different signals in each particular system, but orchestrated by common cellular events that comprise major rearrangements of the cytoskeleton, polarized membrane trafficking and the activation of compartmentalized cell signaling pathways.
This research topic aims to get an interdisciplinary insight into how the elements that are crucial and common to the development and maintenance of the different types of cell polarity are regulated and integrated in the different cellular contexts and developmental circumstances, highlighting the common features and the variances of the mechanisms implicated for each case. Those common “polarity elements” include, though are not limited to:
- The Par, Crumbs, and Scribble complexes;
- The Rho family of small GTPases;
- Actin and microtubule cytoskeleton;
- The Golgi apparatus and the endosomal system.
The scope of this research topic covers recent advances in understanding the regulation and mutual crosstalk between those “polarity elements” in animal cells, during the development of:
? Planar and apico-basal epithelial polarity;
? Ciliogenesis;
? Front-rear migratory polarity and cell migration;
? Immunological synapse;
? Neuronal polarity.
It is our interest that the article comprises the discussion on which are the common features and the variances of the mechanisms addressed for the different types of cell polarity, or for different phenotypes within the same type of cell polarity, in the context of the current knowledge.
Type of manuscripts: Original Research, Brief Research Reports, Methods and Reviews.
