A novel Dictyostelium discoideum gene required for cAMP-dependent cell aggregation

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1998 Mar 17;244(2):505-13. doi: 10.1006/bbrc.1998.8230.

Abstract

Using a method of random insertional mutagenesis called REMI (restriction enzyme-mediated integration), we isolated two mutant strains of Dictyostelium discoideum with a defect in cAMP-dependent cell aggregation. On bacterial lawns, both of the cells formed large and smooth plaques. When starved in a non-nutrient medium, they became elongated and extended pseudopods very frequently like starved wild type cells. However, they never formed streams toward an aggregation center. Genomic DNA fragments flanking the sites of insertion of the REMI tag were rescued from the mutant cells. The fragments contained one common open reading frame encoding a protein of 1148 amino acid residues. The protein's sequence is homologous to those of two hypothetical proteins of S. cerevisiae and S. pombe.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Chemotaxis / drug effects
  • Chemotaxis / genetics
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Cyclic AMP / pharmacology*
  • Dictyostelium / cytology
  • Dictyostelium / drug effects*
  • Dictyostelium / genetics*
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Targeting
  • Genes, Fungal*
  • Genes, Protozoan*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation
  • Phenotype
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Schizosaccharomyces / genetics
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Substances

  • AmiA protein, Dictyostelium discoideum
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Cyclic AMP