scholarly journals Structure elucidation of two differentiation inducing factors (DIF-2 and DIF-3) from the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum

1988 ◽  
Vol 249 (3) ◽  
pp. 903-906 ◽  
Author(s):  
H R Morris ◽  
M S Masento ◽  
G W Taylor ◽  
K A Jermyn ◽  
R R Kay
Keyword(s):  
Cell Differentiation ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Structure Elucidation ◽  
Stalk Cell ◽  
Cellular Slime Mould ◽  
Slime Mould ◽  
Effector Molecules ◽  
Cellular Slime ◽  
Inducing Factors ◽  
Chemical Class

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.

Colchicine induces multiple axis formation and stalk cell differentiation in Dictyostelium discoideum

Development ◽  
1978 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 195-206
Author(s):  
Danton H. O'Day ◽  
Antony J. Durston
Keyword(s):  
Cell Differentiation ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Immunofluorescent Staining ◽  
Stalk Cell ◽  
Axis Formation ◽  
Cellular Slime Mould ◽  
Slime Mould ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Cellular Slime

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.

scholarly journals Growth of myxamoebae of the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum in axenic culture

1970 ◽  
Vol 119 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Watts ◽  
J. M. Ashworth
Keyword(s):  
Cell Differentiation ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Axenic Culture ◽  
Axenic Medium ◽  
Cellular Slime Mould ◽  
Slime Mould ◽  
Solid Media ◽  
Cellular Slime

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.

scholarly journals Enzyme synthesis in the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum during the differentiation of myxamoebae grown axenically

1972 ◽  
Vol 126 (3) ◽  
pp. 609-615 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Quance ◽  
J. M. Ashworth
Keyword(s):  
Alkaline Phosphatase ◽  
Acid Phosphatase ◽  
Cell Differentiation ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Enzyme Synthesis ◽  
Cellular Slime Mould ◽  
Slime Mould ◽  
Cellular Slime ◽  
Developmental Programme

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.

scholarly journals 6-Phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and the assay of uridine diphosphate glucose pyrophosphorylase in the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum

1972 ◽  
Vol 126 (3) ◽  
pp. 593-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. D. Edmundson ◽  
J. M. Ashworth
Keyword(s):  
Cell Differentiation ◽  
Dehydrogenase Activity ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Uridine Diphosphate ◽  
Cellular Slime Mould ◽  
Slime Mould ◽  
Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase ◽  
Cellular Slime ◽  
Diphosphate Glucose

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.

scholarly journals Differentiation-inducing factor from the slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum and its analogues. Synthesis, structure and biological activity

1988 ◽  
Vol 256 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
M S Masento ◽  
H R Morris ◽  
G W Taylor ◽  
S J Johnson ◽  
A C Skapski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Cell Differentiation ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Benzene Ring ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Stalk Cell ◽  
Slime Mould ◽  
Inducing Factors

Previous work has led to the identification of a novel class of effector molecules [DIFs (differentiation-inducing factors) 1-3] released from the slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum. These substances induce stalk-cell differentiation in Dictyostelium discoideum and are thought to act as morphogens in the generation of the prestalk/prespore pattern during development. The DIFs are phenylalkan-1-ones, with chloro, hydroxy and methoxy substitution on the benzene ring. DIFs 1-3 and a number of their analogues have been synthesized by using a simple two-step procedure, and each analogue has been characterized by m.s., u.v. and n.m.r. spectroscopy. The crystal structure of synthetic DIF-1 [1-(3,5-dichloro-2,6-dihydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)hexan-1-one, was investigated. The specific biological activity of each analogue was determined in a bioassay, where isolated Dictyostelium amoebae are induced to differentiate into stalk cells. The major biologically active substance, DIF-1, caused 50% stalk-cell differentiation at 1.8 x 10(-10) M; the C4 alkyl homologue (DIF-2) and C6 homologue possessed 40 and 16% of the activity of DIF-1 respectively. Further increase or decrease in the alkyl chain length resulted in a marked decrease in specific activity. The pattern of substitution on the benzene ring is a major determinant of bioactivity, since the specific activities of the 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methoxy and trihydroxy analogues were less than 1% of that of DIF-1. Substitution of bromine in DIF-1 had little effect on bioactivity; in contrast the activity of monochloro-DIF-1 (DIF-3) was diminished. There was no evidence for antagonism or synergy between DIF-1 and any of its analogues. This series of analogues will facilitate further studies in the biological effects and mode of action of DIF-1.

scholarly journals An Anucleolate Mutant of the Cellular Slime Mould Dictyostelium discoideum

Microbiology ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 491-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. ISHIDA ◽  
Y. MAEDA ◽  
I. TAKEUCHI
Keyword(s):  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Stalk Cell ◽  
Cellular Slime Mould ◽  
Slime Mould ◽  
Growth Difference ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Cellular Slime ◽  
Tetrazolium Reduction ◽  
Spore Cell

Summary: An anucleolate mutant (AN) was isolated from the cellular slime mould, Dictyostelium discoideum. The AN developed normally until the beginning of culmination, when development stopped and no differentiation of the spore or stalk cell occurred. The AN had nucleoli at the vegetative stage, but lost them after formation of a cell mass, in contrast to the wild type (WT) which possessed them throughout development. AN cells disaggregated from a slug, reconstructed nucleoli and resumed vegetative growth. Difference in tetrazolium reduction between the prestalk cell and the pre-spore cell, as observed in the WT, was not detected in the AN, although vacuoles specific to the pre-spore cell were formed. When the WT and AN cells were mixed, they aggregated together, but no interaction in cell differentiation was observed. The roles of nucleoli in the development of this organism are discussed.

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