Copine A is required for cytokinesis, contractile vacuole function, and development in Dictyostelium.

ABSTRACT: Copines make up a family of soluble, calcium-dependent, membrane binding proteins found in a variety of eukaryotic organisms. In an earlier study, we identified six copine genes in the Dictyostelium discoideum genome and focused our studies on cpnA. Our previous localization studies of green fluorescent protein-tagged CpnA in Dictyostelium suggested that CpnA may have roles in contractile vacuole function, endolysosomal trafficking, and development. To test these hypotheses, we created a cpnA- knockout strain, and here we report the initial characterization of the mutant phenotype. The cpnA- cells exhibited normal growth rates and a slight cytokinesis defect. When placed in starvation conditions, cpnA- cells appeared to aggregate into mounds and form fingers with normal timing; however, th

SUBMITTER: Damer CK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1828924 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature