The Cyclic Nucleotide Specificity of Eight cAMP-binding Proteins in Dictyostelium discoideum Is Correlated Into Three Groups

Adenylyl cyclase localization regulates streaming during chemotaxis

We studied the role of the adenylyl cyclase ACA in Dictyostelium discoideum chemotaxis and streaming. In this process, cells orient themselves in a head to tail fashion as they are migrating to form aggregates. We show that cells lacking ACA are capable of moving up a chemoattractant gradient, but are unable to stream. Imaging of ACA-YFP reveals plasma membrane labeling highly enriched at the uropod of polarized cells. This localization requires the actin cytoskeleton but is independent of the regulator CRAC and the effector PKA. A constitutively active mutant of ACA shows dramatically reduced uropod enrichment and has severe streaming defects. We propose that the asymmetric distribution of ACA provides a compartment from which cAMP is secreted to locally act as a chemoattractant, thereby providing a unique mechanism to amplify chemical gradients. This could represent a general mechanism that cells use to amplify chemotactic responses.

Free cyclic AMP increases in PC12 cells on depolarization

The temporal dynamics of the intracellular second messenger cyclic AMP (cAMP) were monitored in living PC12 cells by digital fluorescence ratio imaging using FlCRh, a single-excitation dual-emission cAMP indicator. When the cells were depolarized by exposure to high K+, the free cAMP concentration was elevated, and then slowly decreased back to resting levels when the depolarizing stimulus was removed. Furthermore, the cAMP elevation due to depolarization decreased with successive depolarizations.

Transduction of the chemotactic cAMP signal across the plasma membrane of Dictyostelium cells

Aggregating Dictyostelium cells secrete cAMP during cell aggregation. cAMP induces two fast responses, the production of more cAMP (relay) and directed cell locomotion (chemotaxis). Extracellular cAMP binds to G-protein-coupled receptors leading to the activation of second messenger pathways, including the activation of adenylyl cyclase, guanylyl cyclase, phospholipase C and the opening of plasma membrane Ca2+ channels. Many genes encoding these sensory transduction proteins have been cloned and null mutants of nearly all components have been characterized in detail. Undoubtedly, activation of adenylyl cyclase is the most complex, involving G-proteins, a soluble protein called CRAC and components of the MAP kinase pathway. Null mutants in this pathway do not aggregate, but can exhibit chemotaxis and develop normally when supplied with exogenous cAMP. The pathways leading to the activation of phospholipase C were identified, but unexpectedly, deletion of the phospholipase C gene has no effect on chemotaxis and development, nor on intracellular Ins(1,4,5)P3 levels; the metabolism of this second messenger will be discussed in some detail. Activation of guanylyl cyclase is G-protein-dependent and essential for chemotaxis. Analysis of a collection of chemotactic mutants reveals that most mutants are defective in either the production or intracellular detection of cGMP, thereby placing this second messenger at the center of chemotactic signal transduction. Analysis of the cAMP-mediated opening of plasma membrane calcium channels in signal transduction mutants suggests that it has two components, one that depends on G-proteins and intracellular cGMP and one that is G-protein-independent.

Chemotactic antagonists of cAMP inhibit Dictyostelium phospholipase C

In Dictyostelium discoideum extracellular cAMP induces chemotaxis via a transmembrane signal transduction cascade consisting of surface cAMP receptors, G-proteins and effector enzymes including adenylyl cyclase, guanylyl cyclase and phospholipase C. Previously it was demonstrated that some cAMP derivatives such as 3′-deoxy-3′-aminoadenosine 3′:5′-monophosphate (3′NH-cAMP) bind to the receptor and induce normal activation of adenylyl cyclase and guanylyl cyclase. However these analogues do not induce chemotaxis, probably because the signal is transduced in an inappropriate manner. We have now studied the regulation of phospholipase C by cAMP and these chemotactic antagonists. cAMP induced the two-fold activation of phospholipase C leading to a transient increase of Ins(1,4,5)P3 levels. In contrast, the analogues induced a rapid decrease of intracellular Ins(1,4,5)P3 levels, due to the inhibition of phospholipase C activity. In a transformed cell-line lacking the G-protein that mediates phospholipase C inhibition, 3′NH-cAMP did not decrease phospholipase C activity and was no longer an antagonist of chemotaxis. These results suggest that inhibition of phospholipase C leads to aberrant chemotaxis.

Involvement of cyclic AMP cell surface receptors and G-proteins in signal transduction during slug migration of Dictyostelium discoideum

The presence of G-proteins, interacting with cAMP surface receptors, was investigated in vegetative cells, aggregation-competent cells, and migrating slugs of Dictyostelium discoideum. Our results indicate that G-proteins are present in all stages. In vegetative cells there is a limited number of cAMP receptors but no effect of GTP tau S on cAMP binding could be detected; in addition, no effect of cAMP on GTP tau S binding or GTPase activity was observed. In both aggregation-competent cells and slugs GTP tau S inhibits cAMP binding, while cAMP stimulates GTP tau S binding and high-affinity GTPase. Since the presence of G-proteins coupled to cAMP receptors could be demonstrated in slugs, the involvement of the effector enzymes adenylate cyclase and phospholipase C was investigated. The results show that adenylate cyclase activity is stimulated by GTP tau S in both stages and that in cells from migrating slugs the Ins(1,4,5)P3 production is increased upon stimulation with cAMP. The possible involvement of G-proteins in signal transduction during the slug stage of D. discoideum is discussed.

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.

cis,cis-cyclohexane 1,3,5-triol polyphosphates release calcium from Neurospora crassa via an unspecific Ins 1,4,5-P3 receptor

We investigated the effects of new inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate analogues on the release of Ca2+ from isolated vacuoles of Neurospora crassa. Tri-O-butyryl-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and a set of cis,cis-cyclohexane 1,3,5-triol bis-(CHT-P2) and trisphosphates (CHT-P3) gave an increase in free Ca2+ as measured directly with fura-2, a Ca2(+)-chelator. However, inositol 1,4-bisphosphate, 6-O-palmitoyl-inositol 4,5-bisphosphate and trans-cyclohexane 1,2-diol bisphosphate (trans CHD-P2) did not induce Ca2(+)-release. These results suggest that the 1,5-bisphosphate position in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins 1,4,5-P3) is the only essential arrangement for receptor binding to vacuoles of Neurospora crassa. The structures of these analogues are discussed on the basis of a general concept for the design of new Ins 1,4,5-P3 analogues.