Copine A plays a role in the differentiation of stalk cells and the initiation of culmination in Dictyostelium development.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Copines are calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding proteins found in diverse eukaryotic organisms. We are studying the function of copines in Dictyostelium discoideum, a single-celled amoeba that undergoes cell differentiation and morphogenesis to form multicellular fruiting bodies when placed in starvation conditions. Previously, we showed that Dictyostelium cells lacking the copine A (cpnA) gene are not able to complete the developmental cycle, arresting at the slug stage. The aim of this study is to further characterize the developmental defect of the cpnA- cells.

Results

Time-lapse imaging revealed that cpnA- cells exhibited delayed aggregation and made large mounds that formed one large slug as compared to the smaller slugs of the wild-type cells. While the p

SUBMITTER: Smith TS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2890595 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature