Glowing Whispers

Two populations of engineered cells migrate towards each other to establish contact and exchange vital molecular signals. Driven by their internal skeleton – visualised using yellow dye – the cells move until they meet. At this interface, we witness a dynamic molecular dialogue: a signalling molecule (called a ligand, coloured magenta) binds to its receptor (cyan) and is actively pulled inside the neighbouring cell.

Using WEHI’s state-of-the-art imaging, we can map this precise cellular handshake. One key system, called Eph–ephrin signalling, helps cells recognise and communicate with each other in the nervous, vascular, immune and skeletal systems. When disrupted, the consequences can be devastating, frequently driving diseases like cancer. Understanding these moving cellular interactions helps us pinpoint new targets for more effective, targeted cancer therapies.

• Lurlene Trepout
• Niall Geoghegan