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Sci. Signal., 19 April 2011
Vol. 4, Issue 169, p. ec107
[DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.4169ec107]

EDITORS' CHOICE

Cell Biology Assessing Filopodia Form and Function

L. Bryan Ray

Science, Science Signaling, AAAS, Washington, DC 20005, USA

During development, Drosophila cells form filopodia that protrude in the direction of other cells that produce morphogens that influence their development. Roy et al. (see the Perspective by Affolter and Basler) examined images of cells of developing Drosophila embryos and suggest that particular growth factor receptors are sorted into distinct filopodia and cytoplasmic vesicles. Under certain conditions, cells overexpressing fluorescently labeled growth-factor receptors had filopodia that were oriented in a specific direction and appeared to segregate particular receptor types into distinct filopodia. Further investigation of the nature of the receptor-sorting mechanism and its possible function in signaling may elucidate signaling mechanisms controlling development.

S. Roy, F. Hsiung, T. B. Kornberg, Specificity of Drosophila cytonemes for distinct signaling pathways. Science 332, 354–358 (2011). [Abstract] [Full Text]

M. Affolter, K. Basler, Cytonemes show their colors. Science 332, 312–313 (2011). [Abstract] [Full Text]

Citation: L. B. Ray, Assessing Filopodia Form and Function. Sci. Signal. 4, ec107 (2011).

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