RRC ID 28703
著者 Wilkins A, Szafranski K, Fraser DJ, Bakthavatsalam D, Müller R, Fisher PR, Glöckner G, Eichinger L, Noegel AA, Insall RH.
タイトル The Dictyostelium genome encodes numerous RasGEFs with multiple biological roles.
ジャーナル Genome Biol
Abstract BACKGROUND:Dictyostelium discoideum is a eukaryote with a simple lifestyle and a relatively small genome whose sequence has been fully determined. It is widely used for studies on cell signaling, movement and multicellular development. Ras guanine-nucleotide exchange factors (RasGEFs) are the proteins that activate Ras and thus lie near the top of many signaling pathways. They are particularly important for signaling in development and chemotaxis in many organisms, including Dictyostelium.
RESULTS:We have searched the genome for sequences encoding RasGEFs. Despite its relative simplicity, we find that the Dictyostelium genome encodes at least 25 RasGEFs, with a few other genes encoding only parts of the RasGEF consensus domains. All appear to be expressed at some point in development. The 25 genes include a wide variety of domain structures, most of which have not been seen in other organisms. The LisH domain, which is associated with microtubule binding, is seen particularly frequently; other domains that confer interactions with the cytoskeleton are also common. Disruption of a sample of the novel genes reveals that many have clear phenotypes, including altered morphology and defects in chemotaxis, slug phototaxis and thermotaxis.
CONCLUSION:These results suggest that the unexpectedly large number of RasGEF genes reflects an evolutionary expansion of the range of Ras signaling rather than functional redundancy or the presence of multiple pseudogenes.
巻・号 6(8)
ページ R68
公開日 2005-1-1
DOI 10.1186/gb-2005-6-8-r68
PII gb-2005-6-8-r68
PMID 16086850
PMC PMC1273635
MeSH Actins / genetics Animals Dictyostelium / cytology Dictyostelium / genetics* Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental Genes, Protozoan / genetics* Genome, Protozoan / genetics* Germ-Free Life Movement Mutation / genetics Phenotype Phylogeny Protein Binding Protein Structure, Tertiary Sequence Analysis, DNA ras Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / chemistry ras Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / genetics* ras Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / metabolism* rho GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism
IF 10.806
引用数 28
WOS 分野 BIOTECHNOLOGY & APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY GENETICS & HEREDITY
リソース情報
細胞性粘菌 G00790 S90272 S90273 S90274 S90275 S90283