PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Irene M. Aspalter
AU  - Wolfram Pönisch
AU  - Kevin J. Chalut
AU  - Ewa K. Paluch
TI  - Mouse embryonic stem cells switch migratory behaviour during early differentiation
AID  - 10.1101/2020.12.07.415307
DP  - 2020 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 2020.12.07.415307
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/12/07/2020.12.07.415307.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/12/07/2020.12.07.415307.full
AB  - Development relies on a series of precisely orchestrated cell fate changes. While studies of fate transitions often focus on changes in gene regulatory networks, most transitions are also associated with changes in cell shape and cell behaviour. Here, we investigate changes in migratory behaviour in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells during their first developmental fate transition, exit from ES cell state. We show that naïve pluripotent ES cells cannot efficiently migrate on 2-dimensional substrates but are able to migrate in an amoeboid fashion when placed in confinement. Exit from ES cell state, typically characterised by enhanced cell spreading, is associated with decreased migration in confinement and acquisition of mesenchymal-like migration on 2D substrates. Interestingly, confined, amoeboid-like migration of ES cells strongly depends on Myosin IIA, but not Myosin IIB. In contrast mesenchymal-like migration of cells exiting the ES cell state does not depend on Myosin motor activity but relies on the activity of the Arp2/3 complex. Together, our data suggest that during early differentiation, cells undergo a switch in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, leading to a transition from amoeboid-to mesenchymal-like migration.Summary statement Naïve mouse embryonic stem cells display amoeboid-like migration in confinement, but switch to mesenchymal-like migration as they exit the ES cell state.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.