A simple method for storing cellular slime mold amoebae

1975 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 959-962 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Laine ◽  
Nancy Roxby ◽  
M. B. Coukell
Keyword(s):  
Simple Procedure ◽  
Slime Mold ◽  
Cellular Slime Mold ◽  
Slime Molds ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Cellular Slime ◽  
Cellular Slime Molds

A simple procedure has been developed for freezing of vegetative amoebae of various cellular slime mold species. This procedure can be used to store stocks of both developmentally competent and developmentally defective strains of cellular slime molds for periods up to at least 1 year.

Evidence for differential cellular adhesion as the mechanism of sorting-out of various cellular slime mold species

Development ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-178
Author(s):  
John Sternfeld
Keyword(s):  
Cell Surface ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Cellular Adhesion ◽  
Slime Mold ◽  
Cellular Slime Mold ◽  
Adhesive Properties ◽  
Slime Molds ◽  
Species Sorting ◽  
Cellular Slime ◽  
Chemotactic Gradient

Various authors have shown previously that if the amoebae of two species of slime molds are mixed they have the ability to sort themselves out. In the work reported here, the sortingout of cells of several slime mold species was examined in clumps of cells in suspension. Cells of four species, Dictyostelium discoideum (Dd), D. mucoroides (Dm), D. purpureum (Dp), and Polysphondylium violaceum (Pv), were mixed in pairs in suspension and clumps of cells formed. Dd and Pv cells sorted out completely and formed separate clumps, each of single species. Both Dd and Dm, when mixed separately with Dp, formed clumps containing both species. Sorting-out took place in these clumps such that the cells of Dd and Dm partially enveloped the Dp cells. Finally, in the Dd-Dm mixtures, the Dm cells always sorted out such that they surrounded the Dd cells. When mixed in a 1:2 ratio (Dd:Dm) the Dm cells formed a complete shell around a sphere of Dd cells. Sorting-out of cells in clumps in suspension can occur by either of two possible mechanisms: response of cells to a chemotactic gradient or differences in cell surface strengths of adhesion (Steinberg, 1964). Mixing of two species in a clump of cells and observing the process of sorting-out permits one to distinguish between these two mechanisms (Steinberg, 1964). By such an analysis it was found that the sorting-out observed in mixtures of Dd and Dm is consistent with the mechanism of differential cellular adhesion. The major reasons for this are (1) when the adhesive properties of the cells are known to change the Dd cells began to move inside the clumps, (2) the Dd cells coalesced into islands rather than streaming inward independently, and (3) the Dd cells and cell masses did not lie at the center of the clumps but rather lay randomly within the clumps. The partial envelopment observed in the Dd-Dp and Dm-Dp mixtures and the separate clumps formedby the Dd-Pv mixtures are also consistent with differential cellular adhesion. They represent cases in whichthe interspecific strengths of adhesion are low (Dd-Dp and Dm-Dp) and near zero (Dd-Pv).

scholarly journals Dictyostelium: An Important Source of Structural and Functional Diversity in Drug Discovery

Cells ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuzuru Kubohara ◽  
Haruhisa Kikuchi
Keyword(s):  
Drug Discovery ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Stalk Cell ◽  
Cellular Slime Mold ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Slime Molds ◽  
Lead Compounds ◽  
Cellular Slime ◽  
Cellular Slime Molds

The cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum is an excellent model organism for the study of cell and developmental biology because of its simple life cycle and ease of use. Recent findings suggest that Dictyostelium and possibly other genera of cellular slime molds, are potential sources of novel lead compounds for pharmacological and medical research. In this review, we present supporting evidence that cellular slime molds are an untapped source of lead compounds by examining the discovery and functions of polyketide differentiation-inducing factor-1, a compound that was originally isolated as an inducer of stalk-cell differentiation in D. discoideum and, together with its derivatives, is now a promising lead compound for drug discovery in several areas. We also review other novel compounds, including secondary metabolites, that have been isolated from cellular slime molds.

Genetic Diversity in Cellular Slime Molds: Allozyme Electrophoresis and a Monoclonal Antibody Reveal Cryptic Species Among Dictyostelium discoideum Strains

Genetics ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 117 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-220
Author(s):  
David A Briscoe ◽  
Andrew A Gooley ◽  
R L Bernstein ◽  
George M McKay ◽  
Keith L Williams
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Monoclonal Antibody ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Genetic Relationships ◽  
Cellular Slime Mold ◽  
Allozyme Electrophoresis ◽  
Slime Molds ◽  
Morphological Criteria ◽  
Cellular Slime ◽  
Cellular Slime Molds

ABSTRACT Cellular slime molds have been classified on the basis of a small number of descriptive criteria such as fruiting body color and morphology, and, in heterothallic species, by assignment to compatible mating groups. However, some isolates which are morphologically classified as conspecific do not fall into a simple mating-type classification; for example some are asexual or homothallic. An increasing interest in inter-strain genetic variation in studies of development and simple behavior has led us to reassess genetic relationships among a number of frequently used isolates. Allozyme electrophoresis of 16 soluble enzymes and use of a monoclonal antibody show that there is relatively little genetic diversity among sexually competent Dictyostelium discoideum isolates, despite considerable variation in geographic origin and time since isolation in the laboratory. In contrast a pair of asexual strains and each of two homothallic strains are genetically quite distinct and differ sufficiently from each other, and from sexually competent isolates, to warrant their recognition as separate species. There are probably four biological species represented in the supposedly D. discoideum isolates studied. This heterogeneity extends to other cellular slime mold species. Each of three isolates of Dictyostelium purpureum is genetically distinct from the others. Limited analysis of other cellular slime molds indicates that the generic distinction of Dictyostelium and Polysphondylium must be questioned. This study emphasizes that caution should be applied in classifying simple organisms on morphological criteria.

scholarly journals Breakdown of self/nonself recognition in cannibalistic strains of the predatory slime mold, Dictyostelium caveatum.

1986 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 298-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
D R Waddell ◽  
K T Duffy
Keyword(s):  
Giant Cells ◽  
Slime Mold ◽  
Sexual Cycle ◽  
Slime Molds ◽  
Multicellular Development ◽  
Cellular Slime ◽  
Nonself Recognition ◽  
Cellular Slime Molds

Dictyostelium caveatum amebas feed upon both bacteria and the amebas of other cellular slime molds. The capacity to feed extensively upon other cellular slime molds is unique to D. caveatum amebas. They are able to phagocytose amebas larger than themselves by nibbling pieces of the cells until they are small enough to ingest. Here we report the isolation from previously cloned stock cultures of stable, cannibalistic strains of D. caveatum in which self/nonself recognition has broken down. Because of the extensive cannibalism, amebas of these strains do not complete multicellular development, and instead wander about for long periods while feeding upon each other. Although the cannibalistic behavior resembles that exhibited by the presumably diploid giant cells in the sexual cycle of other cellular slime molds, these strains are haploid and do not form macrocysts.

Acidic ribosomal proteins of Dictyostelium discoideum that show electrophoretic similarity to Escherichia coli proteins L7 and L12

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (10) ◽  
pp. 712-718 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Ramagopal
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Ribosomal Proteins ◽  
Sodium Dodecyl ◽  
Slime Mold ◽  
Cellular Slime Mold ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Cellular Slime ◽  
Acidic Proteins

This study documents the presence of three acidic proteins, A1 (pI 4.95), A2 (pI 4.85), and A3 (pI 4.70), in Dictyostelium discoideum ribosomes. All three proteins showed an apparent molecular mass of 13 000 by two-dimensional, sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. They were selectively released by treatment of ribosomes with 50% ethanol – 1 M NH4Cl. The amino acid compositions of A1, A2, and A3 were identical and indicated a predominant amount of alanine. All the above properties are shared by Escherichia coli proteins L7 and L12 and acidic ribosomal proteins in many eukaryotes. Unlike other eukaryotic systems, the acidic proteins of D. discoideum were found associated with the 40S rather than the 60S ribosomal subunit. Acidic proteins analogous in size and electrophoretic mobility to those of D. discoideum were also detected in several other cellular slime mold strains. Not one of the cellular slime mold acidic proteins reacted with antibodies to E. coli proteins L7 and L12 in immunodiffusion tests. In D. discoideum, the distribution of acidic proteins was altered during development. Amoebae contained all three proteins. In spores, A, was absent and the relative amounts of A2 and A3 were lower than in amoebae. In addition, nine other acidic ribosomal proteins exhibited differences between vegetative amoebae and spores.Key words: acidic ribosomal proteins, development, cellular slime mold, L7 and L12 proteins, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.

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