Cells migrating through complex environments need to coordinate multiple explorative protrusions to avoid entanglement and loss of cell coherence. The microtubule cytoskeleton plays a major role in preventing cell rupture during amoeboid migration by controlling retraction of multiple competing protrusions. Pharmacological depletion of microtubules or inhibition of microtubule dynamics prevent communication between the protrusive cell front and cell body ultimately leading to cell rupture and loss of cell coherence.

Full publication can be found here.

Spotlight in JCB ‘Microtubules keep large cells in shape’ here.