Open AccessDisruption of Dictyostelium discoideum morphogenesis by overproduction of cAMP phosphodiesterase.
Author(s) -
Michel Faure,
Gregory J. Podgorski,
Jakob Franke,
Richard H. Kessin
Publication year - 1988
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.85.21.8076
Subject(s) - dictyostelium discoideum , morphogenesis , phosphodiesterase , mycetozoa , microbiology and biotechnology , cellular differentiation , overproduction , biology , extracellular , dictyostelium , slime mold , chemistry , biochemistry , gene , enzyme
The development and cellular differentiation of Dictyostelium discoideum are disrupted in transformants secreting high levels of the cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. The aggregation of these cells in the early stage of development proceeds rapidly and without the formation of organized streams. The later stages of development, in which differentiation into stalk and spore cells normally takes place, are completely blocked so that the transformants remain in spherical clusters of undifferentiated cells that do not elaborate the tip structure that regulates morphogenesis. These effects are due to overproduction of extracellular phosphodiesterase and demonstrate the role of cAMP during the aggregation phase of development as well as in the control of differentiation and pattern formation.