Abstract
Spectrins are conserved in all eukaryotes and they are thought to crosslink actin to the plasma membrane, forming a mechanically deformable skeleton that lies directly below the membrane. Although spectrins have been studied in erythrocytes, little is known about their function in other cell types. This project aims to characterise the function of the spectrin skeleton in cell migration in vivo, both in vertebrates and invertebrates. This will be achieved by analysing the function of spectrins in the migration of the primordial germ cells in fish and flies, as well as the migration of muscle stem cells in fish.
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