A polarized nucleus-cytoskeleton-ECM connection controls collective migration and cardioblasts number in Drosophila

Abstract

The formation of the cardiac tube is a remarkable example of complex morphogenetic process conserved from invertebrates to humans. It involves coordinated collective migration of contralateral rows of cardiac cells. The molecular processes underlying the specification of cardioblasts prior to migration are well established and significant advances have been made in understanding the process of lumen formation. However, the mechanisms of collective cardiac cells migration remain elusive. Here we identified CAP and MSP-300 as novel actors involved in cardioblast migration. They both display highly similar temporal and spatial expression pattern in migrating cardiac cells and are required for the correct number, alignment and coordinated directional migration of cardioblasts. Our data suggest that CAP and MSP-300 are part of a tension-sensitive protein complex linking cardioblast focal adhesion sites to nuclei via actin cytoskeleton and triggering coordinated cardioblast movements.