RRC ID 6753
Author Sasaki K, Chae SC, Loomis WF, Iranfar N, Amagai A, Maeda Y.
Title An immediate-early gene, srsA: its involvement in the starvation response that initiates differentiation of Dictyostelium cells.
Journal Differentiation
Abstract When nutrients are depleted, Dictyostelium cells undergo cell cycle arrest and initiate a differentiation program for survival. We have found a novel gene, srsA, which is rapidly expressed in the first 5 min following the removal of nutrients and is turned off within an hour. This gene encodes a small protein with no significant similarity to previously characterized proteins. Disruption of srsA results in delayed expression of the early genes acaA and carA that encode adenylyl cyclase and the cAMP receptor necessary for chemotactic aggregation, respectively. Streaming is delayed several hours and the aggregates are larger than normal in the mutant strains. These phenotypes are cell-autonomous. Overexpression of srsA also results in delayed aggregation. Some of the slugs of the srsA(OE) strains showed stalked migration reminiscent of the slugs of the related species Dictyostelium mucoroides. The terminal structures formed by srsA(OE) cells were grossly abnormal and contained very few viable spores. When cells overexpressing srsA were developed together with an excess of wild-type cells, the fruiting bodies were still abnormal, indicating that the mutant cells have a dominant effect on late development. These findings suggest that srsA may be involved in both the starvation response and late differentiation.
Volume 76(10)
Pages 1093-103
Published 2008-12-1
DOI 10.1111/j.1432-0436.2008.00298.x
PII S0301-4681(09)60044-X
PMID 18673382
MeSH Amino Acid Sequence Animals Base Sequence Cell Differentiation / genetics* Dictyostelium / cytology* Dictyostelium / genetics* Dictyostelium / metabolism Genes, Immediate-Early / genetics* Genes, Protozoan* Molecular Sequence Data Morphogenesis Phenotype Protozoan Proteins / genetics* Protozoan Proteins / metabolism Signal Transduction Starvation / genetics
IF 2.392
Times Cited 6
WOS Category DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY CELL BIOLOGY
Resource
Cellular slime molds G23933