RRC ID 28995
Author Sucgang R, Weijer CJ, Siegert F, Franke J, Kessin RH.
Title Null mutations of the Dictyostelium cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase gene block chemotactic cell movement in developing aggregates.
Journal Dev Biol
Abstract Extracellular cAMP is a critical messenger in the multicellular development of the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum. The levels of cAMP are controlled by a cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) that is secreted by the cells. The PDE gene (pdsA) is controlled by three promoters that permit expression during vegetative growth, during aggregation, and in prestalk cells of the older structures. Targeted disruption of the gene aborts development, and complementation with a modified pdsA restores development. Two distinct promoters must be used for full complementation, and an inhibitory domain of the PDE must be removed. We took advantage of newly isolated PDE-null cells and the natural chimerism of the organism to ask whether the absence of PDE affected individual cell behavior. PDE-null cells aggregated with isogenic wild-type cells in chimeric mixtures, but could not move in a coordinated manner in mounds. The wild-type cells move inward toward the center of the mound, leaving many of the PDE-null cells at the periphery of the aggregate. During the later stages of development, PDE-null cells in the chimera segregate to regions which correspond to the prestalk region and the rear of the slug. Participation in the prespore/spore population returns with the restoration of a modified pdsA to the null cells.
Volume 192(1)
Pages 181-92
Published 1997-12-1
DOI 10.1006/dbio.1997.8720
PII S0012-1606(97)98720-0
PMID 9405107
MeSH 3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases / genetics* Animals Base Sequence Chemotaxis / genetics Chimera DNA Primers / genetics Dictyostelium / enzymology* Dictyostelium / genetics Dictyostelium / growth & development* Gene Targeting Genes, Fungal Genes, Protozoan Genetic Complementation Test Mutation* Promoter Regions, Genetic Sequence Deletion
IF 2.896
Times Cited 39
WOS Category DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
Resource
Cellular slime molds S00332