Discoidin-domain receptor coordinates cell-matrix adhesion and collective polarity in migratory cardiopharyngeal progenitors

Abstract

In Ciona, cardiopharyngeal progenitors migrate as polarized pairs of cells between the epidermis and the endoderm. Here the authors show that the endoderm secretes a particular collagen, which promotes Discoidin domain receptor activity to control cell-matrix adhesion and collective polarity.