Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41173885›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

A Rho GTPase-effector ensemble governs cell migration behavior.

Heeyoung Lee, Sangkyu Lee, Yeji Seo, Dongsan Kim, Yohan Oh, Juae Jin, Bobae Hyeon, Younghyun Han, Hyunjun Kim, Yong Jin Lee and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Review
  7. Decoding Rho GTPase signalling networks in directed cell migration.Frontiers in cell and developmental biology · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Heeyoung Lee *Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
Sangkyu Lee *Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
Yeji Seo *Department of R&D, Hulux, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
Dongsan Kim *Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
Yohan OhDepartment of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Biomedical Science & Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9249-8664
Juae JinDepartment of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-0132-6192
Bobae HyeonDepartment of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-1006-4777
Younghyun HanDepartment of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7044-8706
Hyunjun KimDepartment of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Yong Jin LeeDepartment of R&D, Hulux, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
Ho Min KimDepartment of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0029-3643
Gabsang LeeInstitute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. glee48@jhmi.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5052-5927
Kwang-Hyun ChoDepartment of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea. ckh@kaist.ac.kr.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7380-7142
Won Do HeoDepartment of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea. wondo@kaist.ac.kr.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7541-7319

Funding

National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) RS-2023-NR077224National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) RS-2024-00405360
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

How can a cell navigate its environment without any external cues? Since such cues are not always present in the environment, cells rely on internal machinery to explore their surroundings. Although Rho GTPases are known for orchestrating cell motility, the intrinsic Rho GTPase-effector mechanisms governing spontaneous migration remain incompletely understood. Here we show an imaging-based method that profiles protein-protein interactions (PPIs) through phase-separated condensates. By applying this method to hundreds of interaction profiles between Rho small GTPases and their effector proteins, we uncovered two intrinsic mechanisms governing cell migration. Formin-like protein (FMNL) determines the front of the cell by restricting Cdc42 activity, establishing front-rear polarity. In contrast, Rac1-ROCK-interaction-mediated arc stress fiber formation at the front inherently enables spontaneous directional changes and enhances cellular responses to external cues. Our findings elucidate the intricate roles of the Rho GTPase-effector ensemble that governs cell migration behavior, revealing an intrinsic program for efficient motility strategies.

Indexed as

Cell Movementrho GTP-Binding ProteinsAnimalscdc42 GTP-Binding ProteinCell PolarityForminsHumansrac1 GTP-Binding Proteinrho-Associated KinasesStress Fiberscdc42 GTP-Binding ProteinCDC42 protein, humanForminsrac1 GTP-Binding ProteinRAC1 protein, humanrho-Associated Kinasesrho GTP-Binding Proteins

Identifiers

PMID41173885
PMCPMC12579213

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.