Faculty Opinions recommendation of Ammonium transporter C of Dictyostelium discoideum is required for correct prestalk gene expression and for regulating the choice between slug migration and culmination.

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Williams
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Ammonium Transporter

scholarly journals Functional Promiscuity of Gene Regulation by Serpentine Receptors in Dictyostelium discoideum

1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5744-5749 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Verkerke-Van Wijk ◽  
Ji-Yun Kim ◽  
Raymond Brandt ◽  
Peter N. Devreotes ◽  
Pauline Schaap
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Developmental Regulation ◽  
Mutant Cell ◽  
Gene Induction ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Animal Development ◽  
Camp Stimulation

ABSTRACT Serpentine receptors such as smoothened and frizzled play important roles in cell fate determination during animal development. InDictyostelium discoideum, four serpentine cyclic AMP (cAMP) receptors (cARs) regulate expression of multiple classes of developmental genes. To understand their function, it is essential to know whether each cAR is coupled to a specific gene regulatory pathway or whether specificity results from the different developmental regulation of individual cARs. To distinguish between these possibilities, we measured gene induction in car1 car3 double mutant cell lines that express equal levels of either cAR1, cAR2, or cAR3 under a constitutive promoter. We found that all cARs efficiently mediate both aggregative gene induction by cAMP pulses and induction of postaggregative and prespore genes by persistent cAMP stimulation. Two exceptions to this functional promiscuity were observed. (i) Only cAR1 can mediate adenosine inhibition of cAMP-induced prespore gene expression, a phenomenon that was found earlier in wild-type cells. cAR1’s mediation of adenosine inhibition suggests that cAR1 normally mediates prespore gene induction. (ii) Only cAR2 allows entry into the prestalk pathway. Prestalk gene expression is induced by differentiation-inducing factor (DIF) but only after cells have been prestimulated with cAMP. We found that DIF-induced prestalk gene expression is 10 times higher in constitutive cAR2 expressors than in constitutive cAR1 or cAR3 expressors (which still have endogenous cAR2), suggesting that cAR2 mediates induction of DIF competence. Since in wild-type slugs cAR2 is expressed only in anterior cells, this could explain the so far puzzling observations that prestalk cells differentiate at the anterior region but that DIF levels are actually higher at the posterior region. After the initial induction of DIF competence, cAMP becomes a repressor of prestalk gene expression. This function can again be mediated by cAR1, cAR2, and cAR3.

Pharmacological characterization of cyclic AMP receptors mediating gene regulation in Dictyostelium discoideum

1986 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 2402-2408
Author(s):  
B Haribabu ◽  
R P Dottin
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Cyclic Amp ◽  
Cell Surface ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Cell Surface Receptor ◽  
Intracellular Camp ◽  
Response Curves ◽  
Pharmacological Characterization ◽  
Surface Receptor ◽  
Extracellular Molecules

Extracellular molecules regulate gene expression in eucaryotes. Exogenous cyclic AMP (cAMP) affects the expression of a large number of developmentally regulated genes in Dictyostelium discoideum. Here, we determine the specificity of the receptor(s) which mediates gene expression by using analogs of cAMP. The order of potency with which these analogs affect the expression of specific genes is consistent with the specificity of their binding to a cell surface receptor and is distinct from their affinity for intracellular cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Dose-response curves with cAMP and adenosine 3',5'-monophosphorothioate, a nonhydrolyzable analog, revealed that the requirement for high concentrations of exogenous cAMP for regulating gene expression is due to the rapid degradation of cAMP by phosphodiesterase. The addition of low concentrations of cAMP (100 nM) or analogs in pulses also regulates gene expression. Both the genes that are positively regulated by exogenous cAMP and the discoidin gene, which is negatively regulated, respond to cAMP analogs to the same degree. Genes expressed in prespore or prestalk cells are also similarly regulated. These data suggest that the effects are mediated through the same receptor. The specificity of this receptor is indistinguishable from that of the well-characterized cell surface cAMP receptor.

Regulation of the Discoidin I gamma gene in Dictyostelium discoideum: identification of individual promoter elements mediating induction of transcription and repression by cyclic AMP

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 4080-4088
Author(s):  
F Vauti ◽  
P Morandini ◽  
J Blusch ◽  
A Sachse ◽  
W Nellen
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Cyclic Amp ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Base Pair ◽  
Regulation Of Gene Expression ◽  
Promoter Elements ◽  
Down Regulation ◽  
Heterologous Promoter ◽  
Sequence Element ◽  
Pair Sequence

We dissected the promoter of the developmentally induced and cyclic AMP-repressed discoidin I gamma gene and identified a sequence element essential for developmental induction. Transfer of the element to an inactive heterologous promoter demonstrated that this sequence is sufficient to confer expression in axenically growing cells and to induce gene activity in development after growth on bacteria. A 16-base-pair sequence within this element was shown to be sufficient for induction in the discoidin promoter context and was used to reactivate different truncated promoter constructs. This led to the localization of an element necessary for down regulation of gene expression by extracellular cyclic AMP.

An analysis of culmination in Dictyostelium using prestalk and stalk-specific cell autonomous markers

Development ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 111 (3) ◽  
pp. 779-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.A. Jermyn ◽  
J.G. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Extracellular Matrix ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Tube Formation ◽  
Matrix Proteins ◽  
Specific Cell ◽  
Primary Role ◽  
Fusion Genes ◽  
Spore Mass

The ecmA (pDd63) and ecmB (pDd56) genes encode extracellular matrix proteins of the slime sheath and stalk tube of Dictyostelium discoideum. Using fusion genes containing the promoter of one or other gene coupled to an immunologically detectable reporter, we previously identified two classes of prestalk cells in the tip of the migrating slug; a central core of pstB cells, which express the ecmB gene, surrounded by pstA cells, which express the ecmA gene. PstB cells lie at the position where stalk tube formation is initiated at culmination and we show that they act as its founders. As culmination proceeds, pstA cells transform into pstB cells by activating the ecmB gene as they enter the stalk tube. The prespore region of the slug contains a population of cells, termed anterior-like cells (ALC), which have the characteristics of prestalk cells. We show that the ecmA and ecmB genes are expressed at a low level in ALC during slug migration and that their expression in these cells is greatly elevated during culmination. Previous observations have shown that ALC sort to surround the prespore cells during culmination (Sternfeld and David, 1982 Devl Biol. 93, 111–118) and we find just such a distribution for pstB cells. We believe that the ecmB protein plays a structural role in the stalk tube and its presence, as a cradle around the spore head, suggests that it may play a further function, perhaps in ensuring integrity of the spore mass during elevation. If this interpretation is correct, then a primary role of anterior-like cells may be to form these structures at culmination. We previously identified a third class of prestalk cells, pstO cells, which lie behind pstA cells in the slug anterior and which appeared to express neither the ecmA nor the ecmB gene. Using B-galactosidase fusion constructs, which give more sensitive detection of gene expression, we now find that these cells express the ecmA gene but at a much lower level than pstA cells. We also show that expression of the ecmA gene becomes uniformly high throughout the prestalk zone when slugs are allowed to migrate in the light. Overhead light favours culmination and it may be that increased expression of the ecmA gene in the pst ‘O’ region is a preparatory step in the process.

Ubiquitin gene expression in Dictyostelium is induced by heat and cold shock, cadmium, and inhibitors of protein synthesis

1988 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Muller-Taubenberger ◽  
J. Hagmann ◽  
A. Noegel ◽  
G. Gerisch
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Heat Shock ◽  
Differential Expression ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Heat Shock Response ◽  
Cold Shock ◽  
Multifunctional Protein ◽  
Cadmium Treatment ◽  
Shock Response

Ubiquitin is a highly conserved, multifunctional protein, which is implicated in the heat-shock response of eukaryotes. The differential expression of the multiple ubiquitin genes in Dictyostelium discoideum was investigated under various stress conditions. Growing D. discoideum cells express four major ubiquitin transcripts of sizes varying from 0.6 to 1.9 kb. Upon heat shock three additional ubiquitin mRNAs of 0.9, 1.2 and 1.4 kb accumulate within 30 min. The same three transcripts are expressed in response to cold shock or cadmium treatment. Inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide leads to a particularly strong accumulation of the larger ubiquitin transcripts, which code for polyubiquitins. Possible mechanisms regulating the expression of ubiquitin transcripts upon heat shock and other stresses are discussed.

Effect of protein synthesis inhibition on gene expression during early development of Dictyostelium discoideum

1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-16
Author(s):  
C K Singleton ◽  
S S Manning ◽  
Y Feng
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Cdna Libraries ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Protein Synthesis Inhibition ◽  
Mutant Strains ◽  
V Genes ◽  
Steady State Levels ◽  
Development Proceeds

Several genes which are deactivated on the initiation of development of Dictyostelium discoideum were identified by differential screening of various cDNA libraries. These genes have in common a decrease in the steady-state levels of their corresponding mRNAs on the onset of development and as development proceeds. When development was carried out in the absence of protein synthesis by inhibition with cycloheximide, the decrease in mRNA levels for most genes (V genes) was normal or slightly accelerated. For about 5% of the genes (H genes), however, cycloheximide caused an apparent induction of expression, as revealed by a slight or dramatic increase in mRNA levels, instead of the normal decrease. This effect was due to inhibition of protein synthesis and not to cycloheximide per se. The induction was found to be due to an enhancement of the transcription rate; normal rates of transcription for the H genes were dependent on continued protein synthesis during vegetative growth and development. Thus, two general regulatory classes exist for deactivation of gene expression on initiation of development, one of which is dependent on and one of which is independent of protein synthesis. Analysis of expression of these genes in mutant strains which are aggregation deficient allowed the classes to be subdivided further. Taken together, these characterizations allow several distinct regulatory mechanisms to be identified that are involved in the deactivation of gene expression on the onset of development in D. discoideum.

scholarly journals Regulation of the Discoidin I gamma gene in Dictyostelium discoideum: identification of individual promoter elements mediating induction of transcription and repression by cyclic AMP.

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 4080-4088 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Vauti ◽  
P Morandini ◽  
J Blusch ◽  
A Sachse ◽  
W Nellen
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Cyclic Amp ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Base Pair ◽  
Regulation Of Gene Expression ◽  
Promoter Elements ◽  
Down Regulation ◽  
Heterologous Promoter ◽  
Sequence Element ◽  
Pair Sequence

We dissected the promoter of the developmentally induced and cyclic AMP-repressed discoidin I gamma gene and identified a sequence element essential for developmental induction. Transfer of the element to an inactive heterologous promoter demonstrated that this sequence is sufficient to confer expression in axenically growing cells and to induce gene activity in development after growth on bacteria. A 16-base-pair sequence within this element was shown to be sufficient for induction in the discoidin promoter context and was used to reactivate different truncated promoter constructs. This led to the localization of an element necessary for down regulation of gene expression by extracellular cyclic AMP.

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