Endocytosis and inositol hexakisphosphate levels in ras transformants of Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae

Sensory transduction in eukaryotes. A comparison between Dictyostelium and vertebrate cells

The organization of multicellular organisms depends on cell-cell communication. The signal molecules are often soluble components in the extracellular fluid, but also include odors and light. A large array of surface receptors is involved in the detection of these signals. Signals are then transduced across the plasma membrane so that enzymes at the inner face of the membrane are activated, producing second messengers, which by a complex network of interactions activate target proteins or genes. Vertebrate cells have been used to study hormone and neurotransmitter action, vision, the regulation of cell growth and differentiation. Sensory transduction in lower eukaryotes is predominantly used for other functions, notably cell attraction for mating and food seeking. By comparing sensory transduction in lower and higher eukaryotes general principles may be recognized that are found in all organisms and deviations that are present in specialised systems. This may also help to understand the differences between cell types within one organism and the importance of a particular pathway that may or may not be general. In a practical sense, microorganisms have the advantage of their easy genetic manipulation, which is especially advantageous for the identification of the function of large families of signal transducing components.

Increased conversion of phosphatidylinositol to phosphatidylinositol phosphate in Dictyostelium cells expressing a mutated ras gene

Dictyostelium discoideum cells that overexpress a ras gene with a Gly12----Thr12 mutation (Dd-ras-Thr12) have an altered phenotype. These cells were labeled with [3H]inositol and the incorporation of radioactivity into inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] was analyzed and found to be higher than in control cells. In contrast, the total mass of Ins(1,4,5)P3, as assessed with an assay using a specific Ins(1,4,5)P3-binding protein, was not significantly different between control and Dd-ras-Thr12 cells. Cells were labeled with [3H]inositol and the incorporation of radioactivity in all inositol metabolites was analyzed. Increased levels of radioactivity were observed for phosphatidylinositol phosphate (PtdInsP), phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PtdInsP2), Ins(1,4,5)P3, inositol 1,4-bisphosphate, inositol 4,5-bisphosphate, and inositol 4-monophosphate in Dd-ras-Thr12 cells relative to control cells. Decreased levels were found for phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) and inositol 1-monophosphate. Calculations on the substrate/product relationships [i.e., Ins(1,4,5)P3/PtdInsP2] demonstrate that the observed differences are due only to the increased conversion of PtdIns to PtdInsP; other enzyme reactions, including phospholipase C, are not significantly different between the cell lines. The activity of PtdIns kinase in vitro is not different between Dd-ras-Thr12 and control cells, suggesting that either the regulation of this enzyme is altered or that the translocation of substrate from the endoplasmic reticulum to the kinase in the plasma membrane is modified. The results suggest multiple metabolic compartments of Ins(1,4,5)P3 in Dictyostelium cells. In Dd-ras-Thr12 transformants the increased conversion of PtdIns to PtdInsP leads to increased levels of Ins(1,4,5)P3 in the compartment with a high metabolic turnover. This Ins(1,4,5)P3 compartment is suggested to be involved in the regulation of cytosolic Ca2+ levels.