Involvement of cell-cell adhesion in the expression of the cell cohesion molecule gp80 in Dictyostelium discoideum (original) (raw)

Soon after the initiation of the developmental cycle of Dictyostelium discoideum, cells acquire EDTA-sensitive cell-cell binding sites mediated by the glycoprotein gp24. Cells at the aggregation stage display a second type of cell adhesion site, the EDTA-resistant cell-cell binding sites, mediated by the glycoprotein gp80. The gene encoding gp80 is first turned on to a low basal level of expression in the preaggregation stage. At the onset of the aggregation stage, cells produce pulses of low levels of cAMP, which greatly augment the expression of gp80. To investigate the role of cell-cell adhesion in the regulation of gp80 expression, cells were developed in the presence of EDTA or carnitine to block the EDTA-sensitive cell binding sites. Alternatively, cell cohesion was disrupted by shaking low-density cultures at high shearing forces. In all three instances, gp80 was expressed at a substantially reduced level. In addition, exogenous cAMP pulses, which normally were capable of sti...

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