A novel role for Hedgehog signalling in cell adhesion and cell migration

The Hedgehog (Hh) pathway plays essential roles in patterning and proliferation during embryonic development, and has also been implicated in the control of cell migration. However, the mechanism(s) by which Hh signalling regulates cell migration are poorly understood, and have received comparatively little attention. We have discovered a requirement for Hh signalling in cell adhesion and migration in the gastrula stage zebrafish endoderm. During gastrulation the endodermal cells migrate over the surface of a spherical yolk, facilitating imaging and tracking of individual cells. The zebrafish gastrula stage endoderm thus represents an ideal system to study how signalling pathways control cell adhesion and migration. Our work will establish a novel molecular mechanism for Hh signalling in controlling cell adhesion and migration, and integrate Hh signalling in a wider network of signalling pathways that, like Hh itself, have been implicated in the development of cancer and metastasis.