Induction of stalk and spore cell differentiation by cyclic AMP in slugs of Dictyostelium discoideum

Science ◽  
1978 ◽  
Vol 200 (4340) ◽  
pp. 439-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Feit ◽  
G. Fournier ◽  
R. Needleman ◽  
M. Underwood
Keyword(s):  
Cell Differentiation ◽  
Cyclic Amp ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Spore Cell

Ammonia depletion and DIF trigger stalk cell intact Dictyostelium discoideum slugs

Development ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 105 (3) ◽  
pp. 569-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Wang ◽  
P. Schaap
Keyword(s):  
Cell Differentiation ◽  
Cyclic Amp ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Stalk Cell

The differentiation-inducing factor, DIF, was induce stalk cell differentiation in Dictyostelium incubated as submerged monolayers. We investigated the regulates the differentiation of stalk cells in the was found that in migrating or submerged slugs DIF cell differentiation, which is most likely due to the antagonist. Cyclic AMP and ammonia were earlier antagonists in vitro. We show here that ammonia, but an antagonist for DIF-induced stalk cell can induce stalk cell differentiation when ammonia are enzymically depleted. However, depletion of cAMP increase the efficacy of DIF. We propose that the cell differentiation during early culmination may be drop in ammonia levels inside the organism.

The role of diffusible molecules in regulating the cellular differentiation of Dictyostelium discoideum

Development ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.G. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Biology ◽  
Cell Differentiation ◽  
Cyclic Amp ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Cellular Differentiation ◽  
Prespore Cell ◽  
Additional Role ◽  
Acting In Concert ◽  
Morphogenetic Fields

A central problem in developmental biology is to understand how morphogenetic fields are created and how they act to direct regionalized cellular differentiation. This goal is being pursued in organisms as diverse as moulds, worms, flies, frogs and mice. Each organism has evolved its own solution to the challenge of multicellularity but there appear to be common underlying principles and, once pattern formation is fully understood in any system, some general truths seem certain to be revealed. As a non-obligate metazoan, Dictyostelium discoideum has proven a particularly tractable system in which to identify and characterize cellular morphogens. Cyclic AMP and ammonia stimulate prespore cell differentiation and ammonia plays an additional role in repressing terminal cellular differentiation. Differentiation Inducing Factor (DIF) acts to direct prestalk cell differentiation and adenosine may play a synergistic role in repressing prespore cell differentiation. This review summarizes the evidence for these interactions and describes a number of models which show how this small repertoire of diffusible molecules, acting in concert, may direct the formation of a differentiated structure.

Stalk cell differentiation by cells from migrating slugs of Dictyostelium discoideum: special properties of tip cells

Development ◽  
1977 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-113
Author(s):  
C. D. Town ◽  
E. Stanford
Keyword(s):  
Cell Differentiation ◽  
Cyclic Amp ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Active Substance ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Stalk Cell ◽  
Cell Populations ◽  
Distinct Cell ◽  
Tip Cells

When fragments of migrating slugs of D. discoideum are disaggregated and spread on agar containing 1 MM cyclic AMP, cells from all parts of the slug form stalk cells with high efficiency. When cyclic AMP is not added to the agar, normal fruiting of dissociated slug cells can be prevented by overlaying them with cellophane. Under these conditions only cells from the anterior 10% of the slug (the ‘tip’) give rise to appreciable numbers of stalk cells, all other cells remaining amoeboid. By separating distinct cell populations with cellophane we have shown that tip cells can induce cells from other parts of the slug to differentiate into stalk cells. The ability of tips to induce stalk cells is independent of tip age, but the proportion of cells induced depends both on the age of the slug and the part of the slug from which they are derived. The proportion induced is greater in older slugs than in newly formed ones, and in the older slugs is greater in the cells from fronts than from backs. The active substance released by the tip cells may be cyclic AMP.

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