scholarly journals Tip regeneration and positional information in the slug of Dictyostelium discoideum

Development ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-162
Author(s):  
Balakrishna L. Lokeshwar ◽  
Vidyanand Nanjundiah
Keyword(s):  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Sudden Change ◽  
Positional Information ◽  
Anterior Portion ◽  
Regeneration Time ◽  
Cellular Slime ◽  
Rate Processes ◽  
Regeneration Times ◽  
Kinetics Of ◽  
Positional Value

We show in this paper that in the case of the slug of the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum the time which it takes for a new tip to regenerate at a given level can be used as a measure of positional information at that level. Our basic experiment consists ofamputating slugs at various distances from the existing tip and thereby inducing the regeneration of a fresh tip; the time needed for regeneration is estimated by two independent methods. An identical operation, when performed in the anterior portion of a previously cut slug, tells us how this position-dependent regeneration time adjusts to a sudden change in the size of the slug. The reasons which lead us to conclude that tip regeneration times are in one-to-one correspondence with positional information are as follows, (i) Depending on their positions, the cells in a slug take different times to regenerate a new tip following amputation; (ii) regeneration times are scaled in relation to the total length of the slug and increase monotonically with the length cut off; and (iii) as judged by the regeneration time, cells can assess and remember their positions relative to the length of the slug. Our results highlight the importance of two rate processes. One might think of the slower process as being related to the setting up of a system of positional information in the slug, and the faster process as being a reflection of the kinetics of the positional value changing locally till it reaches the level appropriate to a tip.

scholarly journals Disruption of inositol biosynthesis through targeted mutagenesis in Dictyostelium discoideum: generation and characterization of inositol-auxotrophic mutants

2006 ◽  
Vol 397 (3) ◽  
pp. 509-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Fischbach ◽  
Stephan Adelt ◽  
Alexander Müller ◽  
Günter Vogel
Keyword(s):  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Genetic Manipulation ◽  
Inositol Phosphate ◽  
Targeted Mutagenesis ◽  
Inositol Polyphosphate ◽  
Fluid Medium ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Evolutionarily Conserved ◽  
Cellular Slime

myo-Inositol and its downstream metabolites participate in diverse physiological processes. Nevertheless, considering their variety, it is likely that additional roles are yet to be uncovered. Biosynthesis of myo-inositol takes place via an evolutionarily conserved metabolic pathway and is strictly dependent on inositol-3-phosphate synthase (EC 5.5.1.4). Genetic manipulation of this enzyme will disrupt the cellular inositol supply. Two methods, based on gene deletion and antisense strategy, were used to generate mutants of the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum. These mutants are inositol-auxotrophic and show phenotypic changes under inositol starvation. One remarkable attribute is their inability to live by phagocytosis of bacteria, which is the exclusive nutrient source in their natural environment. Cultivated on fluid medium, the mutants lose their viability when deprived of inositol for longer than 24 h. Here, we report a study of the alterations in the first 24 h in cellular inositol, inositol phosphate and phosphoinositide concentrations, whereby a rapidly accumulating phosphorylated compound was detected. After its identification as 2,3-BPG (2,3-bisphosphoglycerate), evidence could be found that the internal disturbances of inositol homoeostasis trigger the accumulation. In a first attempt to characterize this as a physiologically relevant response, the efficient in vitro inhibition of a D. discoideum inositol-polyphosphate 5-phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.56) by 2,3-BPG is presented.

scholarly journals Determinants of mRNA stability in Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae: differences in poly(A) tail length, ribosome loading, and mRNA size cannot account for the heterogeneity of mRNA decay rates.

1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 1957-1969 ◽  
Author(s):  
R A Shapiro ◽  
D Herrick ◽  
R E Manrow ◽  
D Blinder ◽  
A Jacobson
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Mrna Decay ◽  
Decay Rates ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Translational Efficiency ◽  
Cdna Clones ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Kinetics Of

As an approach to understanding the structures and mechanisms which determine mRNA decay rates, we have cloned and begun to characterize cDNAs which encode mRNAs representative of the stability extremes in the poly(A)+ RNA population of Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae. The cDNA clones were identified in a screening procedure which was based on the occurrence of poly(A) shortening during mRNA aging. mRNA half-lives were determined by hybridization of poly(A)+ RNA, isolated from cells labeled in a 32PO4 pulse-chase, to dots of excess cloned DNA. Individual mRNAs decayed with unique first-order decay rates ranging from 0.9 to 9.6 h, indicating that the complex decay kinetics of total poly(A)+ RNA in D. discoideum amoebae reflect the sum of the decay rates of individual mRNAs. Using specific probes derived from these cDNA clones, we have compared the sizes, extents of ribosome loading, and poly(A) tail lengths of stable, moderately stable, and unstable mRNAs. We found (i) no correlation between mRNA size and decay rate; (ii) no significant difference in the number of ribosomes per unit length of stable versus unstable mRNAs, and (iii) a general inverse relationship between mRNA decay rates and poly(A) tail lengths. Collectively, these observations indicate that mRNA decay in D. discoideum amoebae cannot be explained in terms of random nucleolytic events. The possibility that specific 3'-structural determinants can confer mRNA instability is suggested by a comparison of the labeling and turnover kinetics of different actin mRNAs. A correlation was observed between the steady-state percentage of a given mRNA found in polysomes and its degree of instability; i.e., unstable mRNAs were more efficiently recruited into polysomes than stable mRNAs. Since stable mRNAs are, on average, "older" than unstable mRNAs, this correlation may reflect a translational role for mRNA modifications that change in a time-dependent manner. Our previous studies have demonstrated both a time-dependent shortening and a possible translational role for the 3' poly(A) tracts of mRNA. We suggest, therefore, that the observed differences in the translational efficiency of stable and unstable mRNAs may, in part, be attributable to differences in steady-state poly(A) tail lengths.

Acidic ribosomal proteins of Dictyostelium discoideum that show electrophoretic similarity to Escherichia coli proteins L7 and L12

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (10) ◽  
pp. 712-718 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Ramagopal
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Ribosomal Proteins ◽  
Sodium Dodecyl ◽  
Slime Mold ◽  
Cellular Slime Mold ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Cellular Slime ◽  
Acidic Proteins

This study documents the presence of three acidic proteins, A1 (pI 4.95), A2 (pI 4.85), and A3 (pI 4.70), in Dictyostelium discoideum ribosomes. All three proteins showed an apparent molecular mass of 13 000 by two-dimensional, sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. They were selectively released by treatment of ribosomes with 50% ethanol – 1 M NH4Cl. The amino acid compositions of A1, A2, and A3 were identical and indicated a predominant amount of alanine. All the above properties are shared by Escherichia coli proteins L7 and L12 and acidic ribosomal proteins in many eukaryotes. Unlike other eukaryotic systems, the acidic proteins of D. discoideum were found associated with the 40S rather than the 60S ribosomal subunit. Acidic proteins analogous in size and electrophoretic mobility to those of D. discoideum were also detected in several other cellular slime mold strains. Not one of the cellular slime mold acidic proteins reacted with antibodies to E. coli proteins L7 and L12 in immunodiffusion tests. In D. discoideum, the distribution of acidic proteins was altered during development. Amoebae contained all three proteins. In spores, A, was absent and the relative amounts of A2 and A3 were lower than in amoebae. In addition, nine other acidic ribosomal proteins exhibited differences between vegetative amoebae and spores.Key words: acidic ribosomal proteins, development, cellular slime mold, L7 and L12 proteins, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.

scholarly journals Growth of myxamoebae of the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum in axenic culture

1970 ◽  
Vol 119 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Watts ◽  
J. M. Ashworth
Keyword(s):  
Cell Differentiation ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Axenic Culture ◽  
Axenic Medium ◽  
Cellular Slime Mould ◽  
Slime Mould ◽  
Solid Media ◽  
Cellular Slime

1. A simple axenic medium suitable for the growth of the myxamoebae of a strain of the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum is described. 2. Procedures suitable for the growth of this strain in liquid and on solid media are described. 3. Conditions suitable for initiating the cell differentiation of myxamoebae grown axenically are described.

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