Role of Aneuploid Cells in Cell Differentiation in the Cellular Slime Mould Dictyostelium discoideum

Nature ◽  
1969 ◽  
Vol 224 (5221) ◽  
pp. 817-818 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. ASHWORTH ◽  
M. J. SACKIN
1970 ◽  
Vol 119 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Watts ◽  
J. M. Ashworth

1. A simple axenic medium suitable for the growth of the myxamoebae of a strain of the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum is described. 2. Procedures suitable for the growth of this strain in liquid and on solid media are described. 3. Conditions suitable for initiating the cell differentiation of myxamoebae grown axenically are described.


1972 ◽  
Vol 126 (3) ◽  
pp. 609-615 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Quance ◽  
J. M. Ashworth

1. Myxamoebae of the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum Ax-2 were grown on different media, and were harvested either in the stationary or exponential phases of the growth cycle to yield samples of myxamoebae differing in enzymic composition. 2. Morphogenesis and cell differentiation phenomena in D. discoideum appear to be similar in myxamoebae grown and harvested under different conditions. 3. The specific activity of the enzymes β-N-acetylglucosaminidase, acid phosphatase, α-mannosidase, β-glucosidase and alkaline phosphatase have been determined during cell differentiation of myxamoebae grown and harvested under different conditions. 4. The pattern of synthesis of these enzymes, all of which have been claimed to be part of the ‘developmental programme’, either remains unaffected despite the origin of the myxamoebae (alkaline phosphatase) or is qualitatively similar but quantitatively affected (acid phosphatase, β-glucosidase) or is both qualitatively and quantitatively affected by changes in the myxamoebae (α-mannosidase, β-N-acetylglucosaminidase). 5. The implications of these results for the concept of a ‘developmental programme‘ are discussed.


Development ◽  
1978 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 195-206
Author(s):  
Danton H. O'Day ◽  
Antony J. Durston

Colchicine is shown to have several effects on the development of the pseudoplasmodia of the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum At concentrations of 0·01 M and above culmination was prevented, while differentiation of cells into stalk cells occurred at the rear of cell masses. Essentially all cells transformed into stalk cells when slugs were left on colchicine agar for a long time. At concentrations of 0·01 M normal slug architecture was maintained while above 0·025 M pseudoplasmodia reorganized into multiple mounds. Each of these mounds developed an apparently normal discrete tip which was devoid of prespore cells as shown by immunofluorescent staining. The same effects were observed in growing cultures and in regulating slugs treated with colchicine. The data are consistent with the ideas that microtubules are involved in the maintenance of slug architecture and in the differentiation of stalk cells. The modes by which these intracellular structures may operate in these functions are discussed.


1972 ◽  
Vol 126 (3) ◽  
pp. 593-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. D. Edmundson ◽  
J. M. Ashworth

1. 6-Phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activity is present in all morphogenetic stages during cell differentiation in the cellular slime mould. 2. The different ratios of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase/UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase observed during this process can render spectrophotometric assays of UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase inaccurate. 3. The disputed occurrence of increases in specific activity of UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase during cell differentiation in the cellular slime mould is discussed in the light of these observations.


1970 ◽  
Vol 118 (3) ◽  
pp. 505-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edith Wiener ◽  
J. M. Ashworth

1. The myxamoebae of the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum possess several typically lysosomal enzyme activities. 2. These enzymes are present in the cell in association and in a lysosome-like particle. 3. The lysosomes of myxamoebae grown axenically have a different enzymic composition and a different density from those grown on bacteria. 4. During cell differentiation the specific activities of the lysosomal enzymes change. 5. It is suggested that both during growth and differentiation the amounts of lysosomal enzymes present in the cell are regulated.


1988 ◽  
Vol 249 (3) ◽  
pp. 903-906 ◽  
Author(s):  
H R Morris ◽  
M S Masento ◽  
G W Taylor ◽  
K A Jermyn ◽  
R R Kay

Two endogenous differentiation-inducing factors (DIF-2 and DIF-3), which induce stalk-cell differentiation in the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum, have been identified as the pentan-1-one and monochloro analogues respectively of (1-[(3,5-dichloro-2,6-dihydroxy-4-methoxy)phenyl]hexan-1-one). These compounds represent a new chemical class of effector molecules.


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