scholarly journals A pharmacologically distinct cyclic AMP receptor is responsible for the regulation of gp80 expression in Dictyostelium discoideum.

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 3297-3306 ◽  
Author(s):  
P C Ma ◽  
C H Siu

The EDTA-resistant cell-cell adhesion expressed at the aggregation stage of Dictyostelium discoideum is mediated by a cell surface glycoprotein of Mr 80,000 (gp80). The expression of gp80 is developmentally regulated by cyclic AMP (cAMP). In vitro nuclear run-on experiments show that transcription of the gp80 gene is initiated soon after the onset of development. The basal level of gp80 transcription is significantly augmented by exogenous cAMP pulses. Interestingly, in analog studies, 2'-deoxy-cAMP, 8-bromo-cAMP, and N6-monobutyryl-cAMP are all capable of inducing a rapid accumulation of gp80 mRNA, suggesting the presence of a unique cAMP receptor that responds equally well to these analogs. To determine whether intracellular cAMP plays a role in the regulation of gp80 expression, caffeine was used to block cAMP-induced receptor-mediated adenylate cyclase activation. Expression of gp80 mRNA was blocked in caffeine-treated cells but could be substantially restored by treatment with exogenous cAMP pulses, suggesting that adenylate cyclase activation is not required. gp80 expression was also examined in the signal transduction mutants synag 7 and frigid A. In both mutants, gp80 was expressed at the basal level. Pulses of cAMP as well as 2'-deoxy-cAMP and N6-monobutyryl-cAMP were capable of restoring the normal level of gp80 expression in synag 7 cells. These results, taken together, indicate bimodal regulation of gp80 expression during development and the involvement of a novel cAMP receptor in the transmembrane signalling pathway that regulates gp80 gene expression.

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 3297-3306
Author(s):  
P C Ma ◽  
C H Siu

The EDTA-resistant cell-cell adhesion expressed at the aggregation stage of Dictyostelium discoideum is mediated by a cell surface glycoprotein of Mr 80,000 (gp80). The expression of gp80 is developmentally regulated by cyclic AMP (cAMP). In vitro nuclear run-on experiments show that transcription of the gp80 gene is initiated soon after the onset of development. The basal level of gp80 transcription is significantly augmented by exogenous cAMP pulses. Interestingly, in analog studies, 2'-deoxy-cAMP, 8-bromo-cAMP, and N6-monobutyryl-cAMP are all capable of inducing a rapid accumulation of gp80 mRNA, suggesting the presence of a unique cAMP receptor that responds equally well to these analogs. To determine whether intracellular cAMP plays a role in the regulation of gp80 expression, caffeine was used to block cAMP-induced receptor-mediated adenylate cyclase activation. Expression of gp80 mRNA was blocked in caffeine-treated cells but could be substantially restored by treatment with exogenous cAMP pulses, suggesting that adenylate cyclase activation is not required. gp80 expression was also examined in the signal transduction mutants synag 7 and frigid A. In both mutants, gp80 was expressed at the basal level. Pulses of cAMP as well as 2'-deoxy-cAMP and N6-monobutyryl-cAMP were capable of restoring the normal level of gp80 expression in synag 7 cells. These results, taken together, indicate bimodal regulation of gp80 expression during development and the involvement of a novel cAMP receptor in the transmembrane signalling pathway that regulates gp80 gene expression.


1987 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 458-469
Author(s):  
S K Mann ◽  
R A Firtel

We examined two sets of genes expressed early in the developmental cycle of Dictyostelium discoideum that appear to be regulated by cyclic AMP (cAMP). The transcripts of both sets of genes were not detectable in vegetative cells. During normal development on filter pads, RNA complementary to these genes could be detected at about 2 h, peaked around 6 to 8 h, and decreased gradually thereafter. Expression of these genes upon starvation in shaking culture was stimulated by pulsing the cells with nanomolar levels of cAMP, a condition that mimics the in vivo pulsing during normal aggregation. Expression was inhibited by caffeine or by continuous levels of cAMP, a condition found later in development when in vivo expression of these genes decreased. The inhibition of caffeine could be overcome by pulsing cells with cAMP. These results suggest that the expression is mediated via the cell surface cAMP receptor, but does not require a rise in intracellular cAMP. mRNA from a gene of the second class was induced upon starvation, peaked by 2.5 h of development, and then declined. In contrast to the other genes, its expression was maintained by continuous levels of cAMP and repressed by cAMP pulses. These and other results on a number of classes of developmentally regulated genes indicates that changing levels of cAMP, acting via the cell surface cAMP receptor, are involved in controlling these groups of genes. We also examined the structure and partial sequence of the cAMP pulse-induced genes. The two tandemly duplicated M3 genes were almost continuously homologous over the sequenced portion of the protein-coding region except for a region near the N-terminal end. The two M3 genes had regions of homology in the 5' flanking sequence and showed slight homology to the same regions in gene D2, another cAMP pulse-induced gene. D2 showed extremely significant homology over its entire sequenced length to an acetylcholinesterase. The results presented here and by others suggest that expression of many early genes in D. discoideum is regulated via the cell surface cAMP receptor. We expect that many of these genes may play essential roles in early Dictyostelium development and could code for elements of the cAMP signal transduction pathway involved in aggregation.


1987 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 458-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
S K Mann ◽  
R A Firtel

We examined two sets of genes expressed early in the developmental cycle of Dictyostelium discoideum that appear to be regulated by cyclic AMP (cAMP). The transcripts of both sets of genes were not detectable in vegetative cells. During normal development on filter pads, RNA complementary to these genes could be detected at about 2 h, peaked around 6 to 8 h, and decreased gradually thereafter. Expression of these genes upon starvation in shaking culture was stimulated by pulsing the cells with nanomolar levels of cAMP, a condition that mimics the in vivo pulsing during normal aggregation. Expression was inhibited by caffeine or by continuous levels of cAMP, a condition found later in development when in vivo expression of these genes decreased. The inhibition of caffeine could be overcome by pulsing cells with cAMP. These results suggest that the expression is mediated via the cell surface cAMP receptor, but does not require a rise in intracellular cAMP. mRNA from a gene of the second class was induced upon starvation, peaked by 2.5 h of development, and then declined. In contrast to the other genes, its expression was maintained by continuous levels of cAMP and repressed by cAMP pulses. These and other results on a number of classes of developmentally regulated genes indicates that changing levels of cAMP, acting via the cell surface cAMP receptor, are involved in controlling these groups of genes. We also examined the structure and partial sequence of the cAMP pulse-induced genes. The two tandemly duplicated M3 genes were almost continuously homologous over the sequenced portion of the protein-coding region except for a region near the N-terminal end. The two M3 genes had regions of homology in the 5' flanking sequence and showed slight homology to the same regions in gene D2, another cAMP pulse-induced gene. D2 showed extremely significant homology over its entire sequenced length to an acetylcholinesterase. The results presented here and by others suggest that expression of many early genes in D. discoideum is regulated via the cell surface cAMP receptor. We expect that many of these genes may play essential roles in early Dictyostelium development and could code for elements of the cAMP signal transduction pathway involved in aggregation.


1990 ◽  
Vol 1 (10) ◽  
pp. 715-729 ◽  
Author(s):  
R K Kamboj ◽  
T Y Lam ◽  
C H Siu

We previously provided in vitro evidence that the cell surface glycoprotein of Mr80,000 (gp80) of Dictyostelium discoideum is capable of mediating EDTA-resistant cell-cell binding. Expression of gp80 is specific for the aggregation stage when cells form tight aggregates. To investigate the physiological role of gp80, Dictyostelium cells were transformed with a vector containing gp80 cDNA fused to an actin promoter. gp80 transcripts were detected in transformed cells in their vegetative growth phase. Transformants at this stage also exhibited EDTA-resistant cell cohesion, thus providing direct in vivo evidence that gp80 mediates cell-cell binding via homophilic interaction. While aggregates of the parental strain KAX3 had the tendency to break up to form small slugs, transformants expressing an increased amount of gp80 were able to maintain the integrity of aggregates, giving rise to larger slugs, resulting in the formation of bigger fruiting bodies. To further demonstrate that the increase in slug size could be correlated with the expression of gp80, cells of the parental strain were treated with exogenous cAMP pulses to stimulate an over-expression of gp80. The treated cells also gave rise to larger slugs, consistent with the notion that slug size is influenced by intercellular adhesiveness during development.


1988 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
pp. 287-294
Author(s):  
B.E. Snaar-Jagalska ◽  
P.J. Van Haastert

Previous results have shown that Dictyostelium discoideum mutant synag 7 is defective in the regulation of adenylate cyclase by receptor agonists in vivo and by GTP gamma S in vitro; the guanine nucleotide activation of adenylate cyclase is restored by the high-speed supernatant from wild-type cells. Here we report that in synag 7 membranes: (1) cyclic AMP receptors had normal levels and were regulated by guanine nucleotides as in wild-type; (2) GTP binding and high-affinity GTPase were reduced but still stimulated by cyclic AMP; (3) the supernatant from wild-type cells restored GTP binding to membranes of this mutant, and partly restored high-affinity GTPase activity; (4) the supernatant of synag 7 was ineffective in these reconstitutions and did not influence GTP binding and GTPase activities in mutant or wild-type membranes. These results suggest that the defect in mutant synag 7 is located between G-protein and adenylate cyclase, and not between receptor and G-protein. A factor in the supernatant is absent in synag 7 and appears to be essential for normal GTP binding, GTPase and activation of adenylate cyclase. This soluble heat-labile factor may represent a new molecule required for receptor- and G-protein-mediated activation of adenylate cyclase.


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