Regulation of cell adhesion and migration in cortical neurons

Abstract

Accumulating evidence indicate that Rho family small GTPases, including RhoA, Rac1 and Cdc42, control cytoskeletal organization and cell adhesion, and thereby cell migration in vitro and in vivo. Recently, the involvement of other small GTPases, such as Rab and Arf family proteins in cell migration has also been evaluated. Rab5, Rab11 and Rab7, which regulate endocytosis, recycling and lysosomal degradation pathways, respectively, are shown to have essential roles in the migration of immature neurons during the development of cerebral cortex in vivo. These Rab proteins control distinct steps of neuronal migration through the regulation of N-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion. In this extra view paper, I will discuss the functions of Rho and Rab family small GTP ases in cell migration with particular focus on the migrating neurons in the developing cerebral cortex.