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Chemotaxis and the cell surface-area problem

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology volume 9, page 662 (2008)Cite this article

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The review by Robert Kay and colleagues (Changing directions in the study of chemotaxis. Nature Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 9, 455–463 (2008))1 is a masterly and much-needed overview of the problems that prevent a full understanding of the underlying mechanisms behind directional finding and chemotaxis by Dictyostelium discoideum and neutrophils. Kay and colleagues discussed the neglected but important topic of the 'surface-area problem' — the mechanism by which the apparent surface area of the chemotactic cell expands (and contracts). It has been argued that without the ability to expand its surface membrane area, cell polarization, pseudopod formation, phagocytosis and chemotaxis would not be possible, and thus actin polymerization and other cytoplasmic changes are subordinate to membrane expansion2,3. However, Kay and colleagues have underestimated the surface-area problem for neutrophils that increase their surface by far more than the 20–30% increase in surface area reported during D. discoideum migration4.

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Figure 1: Scanning electron micrograph of a human neutrophil, which shows its extensively wrinkled surface.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neutrophil Signalling Group, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK

    Maurice B. Hallett & Sharon Dewitt

  2. Medical Microscopy Sciences, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK

    Christopher J. von Ruhland

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  1. Maurice B. Hallett
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  2. Christopher J. von Ruhland
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  3. Sharon Dewitt
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Correspondence to Maurice B. Hallett.

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Hallett, M., von Ruhland, C. & Dewitt, S. Chemotaxis and the cell surface-area problem. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 9, 662 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm2419-c1

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