Sana Shehzad, Maria Fitian, Mishal Razi and Angelle Philip

Abstract:

Actin-binding proteins (ABPs) play an integral role in cell migration by contributing to cell polarity and regulating cellular protrusions. F-actin nucleation, polymerization, and turnover are required to generate lamellipodia, filopodia, and blebs. ABPs regulate cellular protrusions by binding to the actin cytoskeleton and regulating actin dynamics. Here, I studied the role of ABPs in an in vivo model of cell migration: the SM cell lineage in C.elegans. I depleted ABPs in the mesoblast lineage, which gives rise to the SM cells, using RNAi paired with a myoblast lineage-specific RNAi strain. Preliminary data show that depletion of ABPs impacts development and brood size, suggesting ABPs’ importance in proper cell migration.