Golgi apparatus remodelling during wound healing

The human body contains millions of cells working together for the body to function properly. One subgroup of the cells, called epithelial cells, is constantly maintaining a barrier against foreign particles. Human skin is one key example of such barriers. The skin provides continuous protection against unwarranted particles trying to enter our bodies. However, because of damage to the skin in the form of wounds (scratches or a cut), it creates a gap and an opportunity for unwanted particles to enter our body. 

To seal this gap, epithelial cells undertake the extraordinary task to close the wound. To close the wound, the epithelial cells move towards each other (Epithelial cell migration), from all sides of the wound. During this cell movement, the epithelial cells have to change/rearrange the intracellular content to help them move better. In an uninjured, healthy epithelial cell, the cell nucleus stays at the bottom of the cell, and organelles like the Golgi apparatus and centrosome remain on top of the cell nucleus. This specific position of Golgi with respect to the cell nucleus is fundamental to epithelial cells and defines the cell orientation, also known as cell polarity. In healthy epithelial cells, Golgi on top of the nucleus denotes the apico-basal cell polarity. Interestingly, during wound healing induced epithelial cell migration, the Golgi apparatus and centrosome shift from atop the nucleus to in front of the nucleus, known as the front-rear cell polarity. This switch in Golgi position is a very fundamental aspect of epithelial cell migration, and over the years it has become an indicator of cell migration behavior. But how the Golgi position changes its position with respect to the nucleus has remained unsolved for many decades.