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Molecular analysis of racE function in Dictyostelium
Author(s) -
Larochelle Denis A.,
Gerald Noel,
De Lozanne Arturo
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0029(20000415)49:2<145::aid-jemt6>3.0.co;2-a
Subject(s) - cytokinesis , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , actin , dictyostelium , gene , function (biology) , cytoskeleton , gene product , cell cortex , motility , regulator , cell , cell division , genetics , gene expression
Dictyostelium has long proven to be a valuable system for studying various aspects of the cytoskeleton and cell motility. In this review we describe the isolation of a novel gene, racE , and how we have used multiple approaches to learn how the product of this gene is involved in cytokinesis. The racE gene was isolated in a screen designed to identify genes specifically required for cytokinesis. The use of GFP fusion proteins, coupled with mutational analysis, allowed us to determine that racE exerts its function at the plasma membrane throughout the entire cell cycle. Measurements of cortical tension and observations of live cells in suspension culture revealed that racE is involved in the regulation of cortical tension and actin organization at the cortex. We postulate that in the absence of proper cortical tension, cytokinesis cannot proceed normally. Microsc. Res. Tech. 49:145–151, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.