Open AccessCyclic-AMP-Controlled Oscillations in Suspended Dictyostelium Cells: Their Relation to Morphogenetic Cell Interactions
Author(s) -
Günther Gerisch,
Benno Hess
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.71.5.2118
Subject(s) - dictyostelium discoideum , chemotaxis , oscillation (cell signaling) , biophysics , dictyostelium , biology , chemistry , receptor , biochemistry , gene
Periodic spikes of decreased optical density were recorded in cell suspensions ofDictyostelium discoideum . Spike formation as well as changes in the redox state of cytochromeb are facultatively and independently coupled to an oscillating system which is under developmental control and presumably underlies signal transmission in aggregating cells.Cyclic AMP triggers a double response, the slow component resembling the spikes formed during spontaneous oscillations. The fast component shows characteristics of the chemotactic response to cyclic AMP. The receptor system is suggested to sense changes of cyclic AMP concentration in time. Cyclic AMP pulses interact with the oscillating system, resulting in phase shift or suppression of spike formation, and in the induction of oscillations in an early stage of development before the onset of spontaneous oscillations. Continuous flow application of cyclic AMP does not change frequency up to flow rates which extinguish oscillations.