# Follow That Cell: Motility Analysis of L-plastin Mutant Zebrafish

> **NIH NIH R15** · DE PAUL UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $154,896

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT
 Motile cells are critical for the immune system, yet aberrant cell motility is the hallmark of
tumors. How cells regulate movement is therefore an important issue. In this application, we explore the
genetics of cell motility by experimentally manipulating in zebrafish a key component of the
cytoskeleton– the actin-bundling protein L-plastin. L-plastin is normally expressed only in white blood
cells, but is upregulated in many types of cancer cells and is frequently studied as an unfavorable
prognostic marker for this disease. However the fundamental role of L-plastin in these motile cell
populations remains unclear. For the study of this protein, the zebrafish provides an optimal
combination of genetic and cellular features. Zebrafish have only one copy of the L-plastin
gene, facilitating comparison with the corresponding locus in humans and mice. Genetic engineering in
zebrafish is now highly efficient, allowing the rapid production of effective knock-out, knock-in and
reporter lines. Finally, the transparent tissues of zebrafish allow live visualization of both normal and
modified cell movements in almost any organ. Building on our previous work, this project will use
zebrafish L-plastin knockout lines to examine the impact of this protein on cell division, cell adhesion,
and immune cell migration. These studies will contribute to our understanding of L-plastin function in
embryogenesis, immune response and tumor spread-- all contexts where proper cell migration is critical.
In addition to evaluating the links between actin bundling, the cytoskeleton, and cell migration, the
proposed work will train diverse undergraduates at our institution for future scientific careers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10046864
- **Project number:** 2R15GM120664-02
- **Recipient organization:** DE PAUL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** ELIZABETH E LECLAIR
- **Activity code:** R15 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $154,896
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2016-09-01 → 2022-03-25

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10046864

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10046864, Follow That Cell: Motility Analysis of L-plastin Mutant Zebrafish (2R15GM120664-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10046864. Licensed CC0.

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