Two Poles and a Compass

Rho GTPases control fundamental aspects of neutrophil chemotaxis: establishment of front and back and orientation toward the chemoattractant. Two reports in this issue show that activated Cdc42 at the leading edge helps orient the cellʹs axis in a signaling complex with Gβγ, PAK1, and PIXα; while Rho, activated via Gα13, mediates formation of the uropod, which then interacts by mutual negative feedback with the front to reinforce polarization (Li et al., 2003 [this issue of Cell]; [this issue of Cell]).