Mitochondrial Effects on Cancer Cell Migration

This video shows a cancer cell migrating through a microchannel. The nucleus is stained in blue, and the mitochondria are stained in red. As the cell migrates, the mitochondria are preferentially concentrated near the leading edge of the cell, ahead of the nucleus. We hypothesize that this local concentration of mitochondria increases the energy available to drive forward migration of the cell.

Self-Generated Gradients Drive Cancer Cell Migration

Migration of a PC9 cancer cell in response to self-generated gradients of EGF. As a cell enters the maze, it consumes EGF locally. The cell then migrates in search of more EGF. The fastest change in EGF concentration corresponds to the shortest path through the maze, so the cell naturally finds its way from the entrance to the exit.

Similar migration with a different type of cancer cell.