A quorum-sensing factor in vegetative Dictyostelium discoideum cells revealed by quantitative migration analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Many cells communicate through the production of diffusible signaling molecules that accumulate and once a critical concentration has been reached, can activate or repress a number of target genes in a process termed quorum sensing (QS). In the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum, QS plays an important role during development. However little is known about its effect on cell migration especially in the growth phase.

Methods and findings

To investigate the role of cell density on cell migration in the growth phase, we use multisite timelapse microscopy and automated cell tracking. This analysis reveals a high heterogeneity within a given cell population, and the necessity to use large data sets to draw reliable conclusions on cell motion. In average, motion is p

SUBMITTER: Gole L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3207821 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature