Nanoscale dissection of the Ephrin-Eph Receptor signalling axis in cellular invasion

Juxtacrine cellular cross-talk is critical during development, allowing leader and follower cells to communicate during angiogenesis and neuronal migration. One key axis mediating this process is Ephrin-Eph receptor signalling. Ephrin ligands induce forward signalling in neighbouring cells expressing Eph receptor tyrosine kinases, but also exhibit reverse signalling within the Ephrin-expressing cell. As with many developmental pathways, this signalling is recapitulated in disease, for example in pancreatic cancer invasion. We will use genetic engineering and super-resolution microscopy, in 2D/3D cell-based models to interrogate the dynamics of this reverse signalling, providing crucial insights into the regulation and function of this signalling axis.