Phenotypic changes induced by a mutated ras gene during the development of Dictyostelium transformants

ATP levels influence cell movement during the mound phase in Dictyostelium discoideum as revealed by ATP visualization and simulation

Cell migration plays an important role in multicellular organism development. The cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum is a useful model organism for the study of cell migration during development. Although cellular ATP levels are known to determine cell fate during development, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we report that ATP-rich cells efficiently move to the central tip region of the mound against rotational movement during the mound phase. A simulation analysis based on an agent-based model reproduces the movement of ATP-rich cells observed in the experiments. These findings indicate that ATP-rich cells have the ability to move against the bulk flow of cells, suggesting a mechanism by which high ATP levels determine the cell fate of differentiation.

Cancer and the breakdown of multicellularity: What Dictyostelium discoideum, a social amoeba, can teach us

Ancient pathways promoting unicellularity and multicellularity are associated with cancer, the former being pro-oncogenic and the latter acting to suppress oncogenesis. However, there are only a limited number of non-vertebrate models for studying these pathways. Here, we review Dictyostelium discoideum and describe how it can be used to understand these gene networks. D. discoideum has a unicellular and multicellular life cycle, making it possible to study orthologs of cancer-associated genes in both phases. During development, differentiated amoebae form a fruiting body composed of a mass of spores that are supported atop a stalk. A portion of the cells sacrifice themselves to become non-reproductive stalk cells. Cheating disrupts the principles of multicellularity, as cheater cells alter their cell fate to preferentially become spores. Importantly, D. discoideum has gene networks and several strategies for maintaining multicellularity. Therefore, D. discoideum can help us better understand how conserved genes and pathways involved in multicellularity also influence cancer development, potentially identifying new therapeutic avenues.

Function of small GTPases in Dictyostelium macropinocytosis

Macropinocytosis-the large-scale, non-specific uptake of fluid by cells-is used by Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae to obtain nutrients. These cells form circular ruffles around regions of membrane defined by a patch of phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PIP3) and the activated forms of the small G-proteins Ras and Rac. When this ruffle closes, a vesicle of the medium is delivered to the cell interior for further processing. It is accepted that PIP3 is required for efficient macropinocytosis. Here, we assess the roles of Ras and Rac in Dictyostelium macropinocytosis. Gain-of-function experiments show that macropinocytosis is stimulated by persistent Ras activation and genetic analysis suggests that RasG and RasS are the key Ras proteins involved. Among the activating guanine exchange factors (GEFs), GefF is implicated in macropinocytosis by an insertional mutant. The individual roles of Rho family proteins are little understood but activation of at least some may be independent of PIP3. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Macropinocytosis'.

Loss of RapC causes defects in cytokinesis, cell migration, and multicellular development of Dictyostelium

The small GTPase Ras proteins are involved in diverse cellular processes. We investigated the functions of RapC, one of 15 Ras subfamily GTPases in Dictyostelium. Loss of RapC resulted in a spread shape of cells; severe defects in cytokinesis leading to multinucleation; decrease of migration speed in chemoattractant-mediated cell migration, likely through increased cell adhesion; and aberrations in multicellular development producing abnormal multiple tips from one mound and multi-branched developmental structures. Defects in cells lacking RapC were rescued by expressing GFP-RapC in rapC null cells. Our results demonstrate that RapC, despite its high sequence homology with Rap1, plays a negative role in cell spreading and cell adhesion, in contrast to Rap1, which is a key regulator of cell adhesion and cytoskeleton rearrangement. In addition, RapC appears to have a unique function in multicellular development and is involved in tip formation from mounds. This study contributes to the understanding of Ras-mediated cellular processes.

RasGRF Couples Nox4-Dependent Endoplasmic Reticulum Signaling to Ras

OBJECTIVES

In response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, endothelial cells initiate corrective pathways such as the unfolded protein response. Recent studies suggest that reactive oxygen species produced on the ER may participate in homeostatic signaling through Ras in response to ER stress. We sought to identify mechanisms responsible for this focal signaling pathway.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

In endothelial cells, we found that ER stress induced by tunicamycin activates the NADPH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) oxidase Nox4 focally on the ER surface but not on the plasma membrane. Ras activation is also restricted to the ER, occurs downstream of Nox4, and is required for activation of the unfolded protein response. In contrast, treatment with the growth factor VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) results in Ras activation and reactive oxygen species production confined instead to the plasma membrane and not to the ER, demonstrating local coupling of reactive oxygen species and Ras signals. We further identify the calcium-responsive, ER-resident guanyl exchange factors RasGRF1 and RasGRF2 as novel upstream mediators linking Nox4 with Ras activation in response to ER stress. Oxidation of the sarcoendoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase and increases in cytosolic calcium caused by ER stress are blocked by Nox4 knockdown, and reduction in cytosolic free calcium prevents both Ras activation and the unfolded protein response.

CONCLUSIONS

ER stress triggers a localized signaling module on the ER surface involving Nox4-dependent calcium mobilization, which directs local Ras activation through ER-associated, calcium-responsive RasGRF.

Degradation of activated K-Ras orthologue via K-Ras-specific lysine residues is required for cytokinesis

Mammalian cells encode three closely related Ras proteins, H-Ras, N-Ras, and K-Ras. Oncogenic K-Ras mutations frequently occur in human cancers, which lead to dysregulated cell proliferation and genomic instability. However, mechanistic role of the Ras isoform regulation have remained largely unknown. Furthermore, the dynamics and function of negative regulation of GTP-loaded K-Ras have not been fully investigated. Here, we demonstrate RasG, the Dictyostelium orthologue of K-Ras, is targeted for degradation by polyubiquitination. Both ubiquitination and degradation of RasG were strictly associated with RasG activity. High resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis indicated that RasG ubiquitination occurs at C-terminal lysines equivalent to lysines found in human K-Ras but not in H-Ras and N-Ras homologues. Substitution of these lysine residues with arginines (4KR-RasG) diminished RasG ubiquitination and increased RasG protein stability. Cells expressing 4KR-RasG failed to undergo proper cytokinesis and resulted in multinucleated cells. Ectopically expressed human K-Ras undergoes polyubiquitin-mediated degradation in Dictyostelium, whereas human H-Ras and a Dictyostelium H-Ras homologue (RasC) are refractory to ubiquitination. Our results indicate the existence of GTP-loaded K-Ras orthologue-specific degradation system in Dictyostelium, and further identification of the responsible E3-ligase may provide a novel therapeutic approach against K-Ras-mutated cancers.

A secreted protein is an endogenous chemorepellant in Dictyostelium discoideum

Chemorepellants may play multiple roles in physiological and pathological processes. However, few endogenous chemorepellants have been identified, and how they function is unclear. We found that the autocrine signal AprA, which is produced by growing Dictyostelium discoideum cells and inhibits their proliferation, also functions as a chemorepellant. Wild-type cells at the edge of a colony show directed movement outward from the colony, whereas cells lacking AprA do not. Cells show directed movement away from a source of recombinant AprA and dialyzed conditioned media from wild-type cells, but not dialyzed conditioned media from aprA(-) cells. The secreted protein CfaD, the G protein Gα8, and the kinase QkgA are necessary for the chemorepellant activity of AprA as well as its proliferation-inhibiting activity, whereas the putative transcription factor BzpN is dispensable for the chemorepellant activity of AprA but necessary for inhibition of proliferation. Phospholipase C and PI3 kinases 1 and 2, which are necessary for the activity of at least one other chemorepellant in Dictyostelium, are not necessary for recombinant AprA chemorepellant activity. Starved cells are not repelled by recombinant AprA, suggesting that aggregation-phase cells are not sensitive to the chemorepellant effect. Cell tracking indicates that AprA affects the directional bias of cell movement, but not cell velocity or the persistence of cell movement. Together, our data indicate that the endogenous signal AprA acts as an autocrine chemorepellant for Dictyostelium cells.

Ras and Nox: Linked signaling networks?

Both Ras and Nox represent ancient gene families which control a broad range of cellular responses. Both families mediate signals governing motility, differentiation, and proliferation, and both inhabit overlapping subcellular microdomains. Yet little is known of the precise functional relationship between these two ubiquitous families. In this review, we examine the interface where these two large fields meet.

Linking Ras to myosin function: RasGEF Q, a Dictyostelium exchange factor for RasB, affects myosin II functions

Ras guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) Q, a nucleotide exchange factor from Dictyostelium discoideum, is a 143-kD protein containing RasGEF domains and a DEP domain. We show that RasGEF Q can bind to F-actin, has the potential to form complexes with myosin heavy chain kinase (MHCK) A that contain active RasB, and is the predominant exchange factor for RasB. Overexpression of the RasGEF Q GEF domain activates RasB, causes enhanced recruitment of MHCK A to the cortex, and leads to cytokinesis defects in suspension, phenocopying cells expressing constitutively active RasB, and myosin-null mutants. RasGEF Q⁻ mutants have defects in cell sorting and slug migration during later stages of development, in addition to cell polarity defects. Furthermore, RasGEF Q⁻ mutants have increased levels of unphosphorylated myosin II, resulting in myosin II overassembly. Collectively, our results suggest that starvation signals through RasGEF Q to activate RasB, which then regulates processes requiring myosin II.

LrrA, a novel leucine-rich repeat protein involved in cytoskeleton remodeling, is required for multicellular morphogenesis in Dictyostelium discoideum

Cell sorting by differential cell adhesion and movement is a fundamental process in multicellular morphogenesis. We have identified a Dictyostelium discoideum gene encoding a novel protein, LrrA, which composes almost entirely leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) including a putative leucine zipper motif. Transcription of lrrA appeared to be developmentally regulated with robust expression during vegetative growth and early development. lrrA null cells generated by homologous recombination aggregated to form loose mounds, but subsequent morphogenesis was blocked without formation of the apical tip. The cells adhered poorly to a substratum and did not form tight cell-cell agglomerates in suspension; in addition, they were unable to polarize and exhibit chemotactic movement in the submerged aggregation and Dunn chamber chemotaxis assays. Fluorescence-conjugated phalloidin staining revealed that both vegetative and aggregation competent lrrA(-) cells contained numerous F-actin-enriched microspikes around the periphery of cells. Quantitative analysis of the fluorescence-stained F-actin showed that lrrA(-) cells exhibited a dramatically increase in F-actin as compared to the wild-type cells. When developed together with wild-type cells, lrrA(-) cells were unable to move to the apical tip and sorted preferentially to the rear and lower cup regions. These results indicate that LrrA involves in cytoskeleton remodeling, which is needed for normal chemotactic aggregation and efficient cell sorting during multicellular morphogenesis, particularly in the formation of apical tip.

Cytoskeletal regulation by Dictyostelium Ras subfamily proteins

The Ras subfamily proteins are monomeric GTPases that function as molecular switches in cellular signal transduction. The roles of six of these proteins in regulating actin cytoskeletal functions in Dictyostelium discoideum are discussed in this review.

Roles played by Ras subfamily proteins in the cell and developmental biology of microorganisms

The Ras subfamily proteins are monomeric GTPases that function as molecular switches in cellular signal transduction pathways. This review describes our current knowledge of the roles that these proteins play in the growth and differentiation of single celled microorganisms.

Expression of activated Ras during Dictyostelium development alters cell localization and changes cell fate

There is now a body of evidence to indicate that Ras proteins play important roles in development. Dictyostelium expresses several ras genes and each appears to perform a distinct function. Previous data had indicated that the overexpression of an activated form of the major developmentally regulated gene, rasD, caused a major aberration in morphogenesis and cell type determination. We now show that the developmental expression of an activated rasG gene under the control of the rasD promoter causes a similar defect. Our results indicate that the expression of activated rasG in prespore cells results in their transdifferentiation into prestalk cells, whereas activated rasG expression in prestalk causes gross mislocalization of the prestalk cell populations.

Dictyostelium: an ideal organism for genetic dissection of Ras signalling networks

Signalling pathways based on the small GTPase Ras regulate a multitude of cellular events in eukaryotic cells. Dictyostelium expresses a large and varied family of Ras proteins. It also uses a range of known Ras regulators, in particular RasGEFs, and effectors. The genetic tractability of Dictyostelium, together with the wide range of Ras proteins and regulators, make it an ideal model for the genetic dissection of Ras pathways. This review highlights the recent advances in our understanding of Ras function in Dictyostelium, and considers the implications of these findings for our understanding of eukaryotic signal transduction.

Signalling molecules involved in cellular differentiation during Dictyostelium morphogenesis

GSK-3, Dd-STATa, PKA, rZIP and Ras all play important roles in cell type determination of Dictyostelium discoideum. The fact that homologs of these proteins also function in metazoan development emphasizes the importance of Dictyostelium as a model microbial organism for studying the molecular mechanisms that regulate development. The recent elaboration of the central role for GSK-3 in cell type determination has been of particular importance. The stimulatory effect of extracellular cAMP on GSK-3 activity has been shown to act through the cell surface receptor cAR3 and a tyrosine protein kinase ZAK1, which directly activates and phosphorylates GSK-3. Several proteins, including Dd-STATa, have been identified as substrates for GSK-3, and are therefore potential transducers of the signals involved in cell type determination.

Dictyostelium RasD is required for normal phototaxis, but not differentiation

RasD, a Dictyostelium homolog of mammalian Ras, is maximally expressed during the multicellular stage of development. Normal Dictyostelium aggregates are phototactic and thermotactic, moving towards sources of light and heat with great sensitivity. We show that disruption of the gene for rasDcauses a near-total loss of phototaxis and thermotaxis in mutant aggregates, without obvious effects on undirected movement. Previous experiments had suggested important roles for RasD in development and cell-type determination. Surprisingly, rasD− cells show no obvious changes in these processes. These cells represent a novel class of phototaxis mutant, and indicate a role for a Ras pathway in the connections between stimuli and coordinated cell movement.

The Dictyostelium RasS protein is required for macropinocytosis, phagocytosis and the control of cell movement

Endocytosis and cell migration both require transient localised remodelling of the cell cortex. Several lines of evidence suggest a key regulatory role in these activities for members of the Ras family of small GTPases. We have generated Dictyostelium cells lacking one member of this family, RasS, and the mutant cells are perturbed in endocytosis and cell migration. Mutant amoebae are defective in phagocytosis and fluid-phase endocytosis and are impaired in growth. Conversely, the rasS(-)cells show an enhanced rate of cell migration, moving three times faster than wild-type controls. The mutant cells display an aberrant morphology, are highly polarised, carry many elongated actin protrusions and show a concomitant decrease in formation of pinocytic crowns on the cell surface. These morphological aberrations are paralleled by changes in the actin cytoskeleton, with a significant proportion of the cortical F-actin relocalised to prominent pseudopodia. Rapid migration and endocytosis appear to be mutually incompatible and it is likely that RasS protein is required to maintain the normal balance between these two actin-dependent processes.

A novel Ras-interacting protein required for chemotaxis and cyclic adenosine monophosphate signal relay in Dictyostelium

We have identified a novel Ras-interacting protein from Dictyostelium, RIP3, whose function is required for both chemotaxis and the synthesis and relay of the cyclic AMP (cAMP) chemoattractant signal. rip3 null cells are unable to aggregate and lack receptor activation of adenylyl cyclase but are able, in response to cAMP, to induce aggregation-stage, postaggregative, and cell-type-specific gene expression in suspension culture. In addition, rip3 null cells are unable to properly polarize in a cAMP gradient and chemotaxis is highly impaired. We demonstrate that cAMP stimulation of guanylyl cyclase, which is required for chemotaxis, is reduced approximately 60% in rip3 null cells. This reduced activation of guanylyl cyclase may account, in part, for the defect in chemotaxis. When cells are pulsed with cAMP for 5 h to mimic the endogenous cAMP oscillations that occur in wild-type strains, the cells will form aggregates, most of which, however, arrest at the mound stage. Unlike the response seen in wild-type strains, the rip3 null cell aggregates that form under these experimental conditions are very small, which is probably due to the rip3 null cell chemotaxis defect. Many of the phenotypes of the rip3 null cell, including the inability to activate adenylyl cyclase in response to cAMP and defects in chemotaxis, are very similar to those of strains carrying a disruption of the gene encoding the putative Ras exchange factor AleA. We demonstrate that aleA null cells also exhibit a defect in cAMP-mediated activation of guanylyl cyclase similar to that of rip3 null cells. A double-knockout mutant (rip3/aleA null cells) exhibits a further reduction in receptor activation of guanylyl cyclase, and these cells display almost no cell polarization or movement in cAMP gradients. As RIP3 preferentially interacts with an activated form of the Dictyostelium Ras protein RasG, which itself is important for cell movement, we propose that RIP3 and AleA are components of a Ras-regulated pathway involved in integrating chemotaxis and signal relay pathways that are essential for aggregation.

A cell-counting factor regulating structure size in Dictyostelium

Developing Dictyostelium cells form large aggregation streams that break up into groups of 0.2 x 10(5) to 1 x 10(5) cells. Each group then becomes a fruiting body. smlA cells oversecrete an unknown factor that causes aggregation streams to break up into groups of approximately 5 x 10(3) cells and thus form very small fruiting bodies. We have purified the counting factor and find that it behaves as a complex of polypeptides with an effective molecular mass of 450 kD. One of the polypeptides is a 40-kD hydrophilic protein we have named counting. In transformants with a disrupted counting gene, there is no detectable secretion of counting factor, and the aggregation streams do not break up, resulting in huge (up to 2 x 10(5) cell) fruiting bodies.

SCAR, a WASP-related protein, isolated as a suppressor of receptor defects in late Dictyostelium development

G protein-coupled receptors trigger the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton in many cell types, but the steps in this signal transduction cascade are poorly understood. During Dictyostelium development, extracellular cAMP functions as a chemoattractant and morphogenetic signal that is transduced via a family of G protein-coupled receptors, the cARs. In a strain where the cAR2 receptor gene is disrupted by homologous recombination, the developmental program arrests before tip formation. In a genetic screen for suppressors of this phenotype, a gene encoding a protein related to the Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome protein was discovered. Loss of this protein, which we call SCAR (suppressor of cAR), restores tip formation and most later development to cAR2(-) strains, and causes a multiple-tip phenotype in a cAR2(+) strain as well as leading to the production of extremely small cells in suspension culture. SCAR-cells have reduced levels of F-actin staining during vegetative growth, and abnormal cell morphology and actin distribution during chemotaxis. Uncharacterized homologues of SCAR have also been identified in humans, mouse, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Drosophila. These data suggest that SCAR may be a conserved negative regulator of G protein-coupled signaling, and that it plays an important role in regulating the actin cytoskeleton.

Role of PKA in the timing of developmental events in Dictyostelium cells

The cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase, PKA, is dispensable for growth of Dictyostelium cells but plays a variety of crucial roles in development. The catalytic subunit of PKA is inhibited when associated with its regulatory subunit but is activated when cAMP binds to the regulatory subunit. Deletion of pkaR or overexpression of the gene encoding the catalytic subunit, pkaC, results in constitutive activity. Development is independent of cAMP in strains carrying these genetic alterations and proceeds rapidly to the formation of both spores and stalk cells. However, morphogenesis is aberrant in these mutants. In the wild type, PKA activity functions in a circuit that can spontaneously generate pulses of cAMP necessary for long-range aggregation. It is also essential for transcriptional activation of both prespore and prestalk genes during the slug stage. During culmination, PKA functions in both prespore and prestalk cells to regulate the relative timing of terminal differentiation. A positive feedback loop results in the rapid release of a signal peptide, SDF-2, when prestalk cells are exposed to low levels of SDF-2. The signal transduction pathway that mediates the response to SDF-2 in both prestalk and prespore cells involves the two-component system of DhkA and RegA. When the cAMP phosphodiesterase RegA is inhibited, cAMP accumulates and activates PKA, leading to vacuolation of stalk cells and encapsulation of spores. These studies indicate that multiple inputs regulate PKA activity to control the relative timing of differentiations in Dictyostelium.

Rap1 overexpression reveals that activated RasD induces separable defects during Dictyostelium development

One of the Dictyostelium ras genes, rasD, is expressed preferentially in prestalk cells at the slug stage of development and overexpression of this gene containing a G12T activating mutation causes the formation of aberrant multitipped aggregates that are blocked from further development (Reymond et al., 1986, Nature, 323, 340-343). The ability of the Dictyostelium rap1 gene to suppress this abnormal developmental phenotype was investigated. The rap1 gene and G12V activated and G10V negative mutant forms of the rap1 gene were independently linked to the rasD promoter and each construct used to transform M1, a Dictyostelium cell line expressing RasD[G12T]. Transformants of M1 that expressed Rap1 or Rap1[G12V] protein still formed multitipped aggregates, but most tips were able to complete development and form fruiting bodies. Cell lines showing this modified phenotype were designated ME (multitipped escape). The rap1[G10V] construct did not modify the M1 phenotype. These data suggest that overexpression of RasD[G12T] has two effects, the formation of a multitipped aggregate and a block in subsequent differentiation and that the expression of Rap1 or Rap1[G12V] reverses only the latter. Differentiation of ME cells in low density monolayers showed the identical low level of stalk and spore cell formation seen for M1 cells under the same conditions. Thus the cell autonomous defect in monolayer differentiation induced in the M1 strain was not corrected in the ME strain. Cell type-specific gene expression during the development of M1 cells is dramatically altered: prestalk cell-specific gene expression is greatly enhanced, whereas prespore-specific gene expression is almost suppressed (Louis et al., 1997, Mol. Biol. Cell, 8, 303-312). During the development of ME cells, ecmA mRNA levels were restored to those seen for Ax3, and tagB mRNA levels were also markedly reduced, although not to Ax3 levels. cotC expression in ME cells was enhanced severalfold relative to M1, although levels were still lower than those observed during the development of Ax3. The low expression of car1 mRNA during early development of the M1 strain remained low during the development of ME cells. These data are consistent with the idea that the expression of RasD[G12T] affects two independent and temporally separated events and that only the later defect is reversed by rap1.

A ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme is essential for developmental transitions in Dictyostelium

We have identified a developmentally essential gene, UbcB, by insertional mutagenesis. The encoded protein (UBC1) shows very high amino acid sequence identity to ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes from other organisms, suggesting that UBC1 is involved in protein ubiquitination and possibly degradation during Dictyostelium development. Consistent with the homology of the UBC1 protein to UBCs, the developmental pattern of protein ubiquitination is altered in ubcB-null cells. ubcB-null cells are blocked in the ability to properly execute the developmental transition that occurs between the induction of postaggregative gene expression during mound formation and the induction of cell-type differentiation and subsequent morphogenesis. ubcB-null cells plated on agar form mounds with normal kinetics; however, they remain at this stage for approximately 10 h before forming multiple tips and fingers that then arrest. Under other conditions, some of the fingers form migrating slugs, but no culmination is observed. In ubcB-null cells, postaggregative gene transcripts accumulate to very high levels and do not decrease significantly with time as they do in wild-type cells. Expression of cell-type-specific genes is very delayed, with the level of prespore-specific gene expression being significantly reduced compared with that in wild-type cells. lacZ reporter studies using developmentally regulated and cell-type-specific promoters suggest that ubcB-null cells show an unusually elevated level of staining of lacZ reporters expressed in anterior-like cells, a regulatory cell population found scattered throughout the aggregate, and reduced staining of a prespore reporter. ubcB-null cells in a chimeric organism containing predominantly wild-type cells are able to undergo terminal differentiation but show altered spatial localization. In contrast, in chimeras containing only a small fraction of wild-type cells, the mature fruiting body is very small and composed almost exclusively of wild-type cells, with the ubcB-null cells being present as a mass of cells located in extreme posterior of the developing organism. The amino acid sequence analysis of the UbcB open reading frame (ORF) and the analysis of the developmental phenotypes suggest that tip formation and subsequent development requires specific protein ubiquitination, and possibly degradation.

Dictyostelium RasG is required for normal motility and cytokinesis, but not growth

RasG is the most abundant Ras protein in growing Dictyostelium cells and the closest relative of mammalian Ras proteins. We have generated null mutants in which expression of RasG is completely abolished. Unexpectedly, RasG- cells are able to grow at nearly wild-type rates. However, they exhibit defective cell movement and a wide range of defects in the control of the actin cytoskeleton, including a loss of cell polarity, absence of normal lamellipodia, formation of unusual small, punctate polymerized actin structures, and a large number of abnormally long filopodia. Despite their lack of polarity and abnormal cytoskeleton, mutant cells perform normal chemotaxis. However, rasG- cells are unable to perform normal cytokinesis, becoming multinucleate when grown in suspension culture. Taken together, these data suggest a principal role for RasG in coordination of cell movement and control of the cytoskeleton.

Two ras genes in Dictyostelium minutum show high sequence homology, but different developmental regulation from Dictyostelium discoideum rasD and rasG genes

The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum expresses five ras genes at different stages of development. One of them, DdrasD is expressed during postaggregative development and transcription is induced by extracellular cAMP. A homologue of DdrasD, the DdrasG gene, is expressed exclusively during vegetative growth. We cloned two ras homologues Dmras1 and Dmras2 from the primitive species D. minutum, which show high homology to DdrasD and DdrasG and less homology to the other Ddras genes. In contrast to the DdrasD and DdrasG genes, both the Dmras1 and Dmras2 genes are expressed during the entire course of development. The expression levels are low during growth, increase at the onset of starvation and do not decrease until fruiting bodies have formed. Expression of neither Dmras1 or Dmras2 is regulated by cAMP. So even though the high degree of homology between the ras genes of different species suggests conservation of function, this function is apparently not associated with a specific developmental stage.

A Ras GAP is essential for cytokinesis and spatial patterning in Dictyostelium

Using the yeast two-hybrid system, we have identified developmentally regulated Dictyostelium genes whose encoded proteins interact with Ras-GTP but not Ras-GDP. By sequence homology and biochemical function, one of these genes encodes a Ras GAP (DdRasGAP1). Cells carrying a DdRasGAP1 gene disruption (ddrasgap1 null cells) have multiple, very distinct growth and developmental defects as elucidated by examining the phenotypes of ddrasgap1 null strains. First, vegetative ddrasgap1 null cells are very large and highly multinucleate cells when grown in suspension, indicating a severe defect in cytokinesis. When suspension-grown cells are plated in growth medium on plastic where they attach and can move, the cells rapidly become mono- and dinucleate by traction-mediated cell fission and continue to grow vegetatively with a number of nuclei (1–2) per cell, similar to wild-type cells. The multinucleate phenotype, combined with results indicating that constitutive expression of activated Ras does not yield highly multinucleate cells and data on Ras null mutants, suggest that Ras may need to cycle between GTP- and GDP-bound states for proper cytokinesis. After starvation, the large null cells undergo rapid fission when they start to move at the onset of aggregation, producing mononucleate cells that form a normal aggregate. Second, ddrasgap1 null cells also have multiple developmental phenotypes that indicate an essential role of DdRasGAP1 in controlling cell patterning. Multicellular development is normal through the mid-slug stage, after which morphological differentiation is very abnormal and no culminant is formed: no stalk cells and very few spores are detected. lacZ reporter studies show that by the mid-finger stage, much of the normal cell-type patterning is lost, indicating that proper DdRasGAP1 function and possibly normal Ras activity are necessary to maintain spatial organization and for induction of prestalk to stalk and prespore to spore cell differentiation. The inability of ddrasgap1 null cells to initiate terminal differentiation and form stalk cells is consistent with a model in which Ras functions as a mediator of inhibitory signals in cell-type differentiation at this stage. Third, DdRasGAP1 and cAMP dependent protein kinase (PKA) interact to control spatial organization within the organism. Overexpression of the PKA catalytic subunit in ddrasgap1 cells yields terminal structures that are multiply branched but lack spores. This suggests that RasGAP and PKA may mediate common pathways that regulate apical tip differentiation and organizer function, which in turn control spatial organization during multicellular development. It also suggests that DdRasGAP1 either lies downstream from PKA in the prespore to spore pathway or in a parallel pathway that is also essential for spore differentiation. Our results indicate that DdRasGAP1 plays an essential role in controlling multiple, potentially novel pathways regulating growth and differentiation in Dictyostelium and suggest a role for Ras in these processes.

Expression of an activated rasD gene changes cell fate decisions during Dictyostelium development

It has been previously demonstrated that the expression of an activated rasD gene in wild-type Dictyostelium cells results in formation of aggregates with multitips, instead of the normal single tips, and a block in further development. In an attempt to better understand the role of activated RasD development, we examined cell-type-specific gene expression in a strain stably expressing high levels of RasD[G12T]. We found that the expression of prestalk cell-specific genes ecmA and tagB was markedly enhanced, whereas the expression of the prespore cell-specific gene cotC was reduced to very low levels. When the fate of cells in the multitipped aggregate was monitored with an ecmA/lacZ fusion, it appeared that most of the cells eventually adopted prestalk gene expression characteristics. When mixtures of the [G12T]rasD cells and Ax3 cells were induced to differentiate, chimeric pseudoplasmodia were not formed. Thus, although the [G12T]rasD transformant had a marked propensity to form prestalk cells, it could not supply the prestalk cell population when mixed with wild-type cells. Both stalk and spore cell formation occurred in low cell density monolayers of the [G12T]rasD strain, suggesting that at least part of the inhibition of stalk and spore formation during multicellular development involved inhibitory cell interactions within the cell mass. Models for the possible role of rasD in development are discussed.

DGAP1, a homologue of rasGTPase activating proteins that controls growth, cytokinesis, and development in Dictyostelium discoideum

A protein accumulated in the cortical region of Dictyostelium discoideum cells proved to be a homologue of GTPase activating proteins that are responsible for the inactivation of ras in yeast and man. Elimination of this protein, DGAP1, by gene replacement resulted in an increased rate of growth of D. discoideum cells on bacterial lawns, and in the formation of aberrant, multi-tipped fruiting bodies. Overexpression of DGAP1 caused the cells to become multi-nucleated since chromosome segregation during mitosis was not reliably followed by cleavage of the cells. These results suggest that in D. discoideum, ras or a related small GTP-binding protein is involved in regulating growth based on the phagocytosis of bacteria, and in coupling activities of the cell cortex to the organization of spindle and asters in mitotic cells.

Overexpression of an activated rasG gene during growth blocks the initiation of Dictyostelium development

Transformants that expressed either the wild-type rasG gene, an activated rasG-G12T gene, or a dominant negative rasG-S17N gene, all under the control of the folate-repressible discoidin (dis1gamma) promoter, were isolated. All three transformants expressed high levels of Ras protein which were reduced by growth in the presence of folate. All three transformants grew slowly, and the reduction in growth rate correlated with the amount of RasG protein produced, suggesting that RasG is important in regulating cell growth. The pVEII-rasG transformant containing the wild-type rasG gene developed normally despite the presence of high levels of RasG throughout development. This result indicates that the down regulation of rasG that normally occurs during aggregation of wild-type strains is not essential for the differentiation process. Dictyostelium transformants expressing the dominant negative rasG-S17N gene also differentiated normally. Dictyostelium transformants that overexpressed the activated rasG-G12T gene did not aggregate. The defect occurred very early in development, since the expression of car1 and pde, genes that are normally induced soon after the initiation of development, was repressed. However, when the transformant cells were pulsed with cyclic AMP, expression of both genes returned to wild-type levels. The transformants exhibited chemotaxis to cyclic AMP, and development was synergized by mixing with wild-type cells. Furthermore, cells that were pulsed with cyclic AMP for 4 h before being induced to differentiate by plating on filters produced small, but otherwise normal, fruiting bodies. These results suggest that the rasG-G12T transformants are defective in cyclic AMP production and that RasG - GTP blocks development by interfering with the initial generation of cyclic AMP pulses.

The aimless RasGEF is required for processing of chemotactic signals through G-protein-coupled receptors in Dictyostelium

BACKGROUND

Ras proteins are small GTP-binding proteins that play an essential role in a wide range of processes, particularly in mammalian growth control. They act as molecular switches, being inactive when GDP is bound, and active when associated with GTP. Activation is accomplished by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (RasGEFs); when RasGEFs interact with Ras proteins, GDP is allowed to escape, and is replaced by GTP. Dictyostelium responds to chemoattractants through typical seven transmembrane domain receptors and heterotrimeric G proteins. There are at least five different Dictyostelium Ras genes, whose functions are not yet known.

RESULTS

We have isolated the aimless gene, which encodes the Dictyostelium homologue of RasGEFs, during a screen for insertional mutants that fail to aggregate. We found that aimless null mutants grew at a normal rate, but were severely impaired in both chemotaxis and activation of adenylyl cyclase, both of which are critical for the early stages of development. Although coupling between receptors and their G proteins is unaffected, and several cyclic AMP (cAMP)-mediated responses appear normal, activation of adenylyl cyclase by receptors and GTP gamma S (a non-hydrolyzable GTP analogue) is reduced by up to 95%. The motility of mutant cells appears normal, suggesting a true defect in gradient sensing.

CONCLUSIONS

The discovery of the aimless gene adds an interesting new member to the family of RasGEFs. Our data suggest an unforeseen role for a RasGEF, and therefore presumably a complete Ras pathway, in the processing of chemotactic signals through G-protein-coupled receptors.

PSF and CMF, autocrine factors that regulate gene expression during growth and early development of Dictyostelium

Throughout growth and development, Dictyostelium cells secrete autocrine factors that accumulate in proportion to cell density. At sufficient concentration, these factors cause changes in gene expression. Vegetative Dictyostelium cells continuously secrete prestarvation factor (PSF). The bacteria upon which the cells feed inhibit their response to PSF, allowing the cells to monitor their own density in relation to that of their food supply. At high PSF/bacteria ratios, which occur during late exponential growth, PSF induces the expression of several genes whose products are needed for cell aggregation. When the food supply has been depleted, PSF production declines, and a second density-sensing pathway is activated. Starving cells secrete conditioned medium factor (CMF), a glycoprotein of Mr 80 kDa that is essential for the development of differentiated cell types. Antisense mutagenesis has shown that cells lacking CMF cannot aggregate, and preliminary data suggest that CMF regulates cAMP signal transduction. Calculations indicate that a mechanism of simultaneously secreting and recognizing a signal molecule, as used by Dictyostelium to monitor cell density, could also be used to determine the total number of cells in a tissue.

A phosphatidylinositol (PI) kinase gene family in Dictyostelium discoideum: biological roles of putative mammalian p110 and yeast Vps34p PI 3-kinase homologs during growth and development

Three groups of phosphatidylinositol (PI) kinases convert PI into PI(3)phosphate, PI(4)phosphate, PI(4,5) bisphosphate, and PI(3,4,5)trisphosphate. These phosphoinositides have been shown to function in vesicle-mediated protein sorting, and they serve as second-messenger signaling molecules for regulating cell growth. To further elucidate the mechanism of regulation and function of phosphoinositides, we cloned genes encoding five putative PI kinases from Dictyostelium discoideum. Database analysis indicates that D. discoideum PIK1 (DdPIK1), -2, and -3 are most closely related to the mammalian p110 PI 3-kinase, DdPIK5 is closest to the yeast Vps34p PI 3-kinase, and DdPIK4 is most homologous to PI 4-kinases. Together with other known PI kinases, a superfamily of PI kinase genes has been defined, with all of the encoded proteins sharing a common highly conserved catalytic core domain. DdPIK1, -2, and -3 may have redundant functions because disruption of any single gene had no effect on D. discoideum growth or development. However, strains in which both of the two most highly related genes, DdPIK1 and DdPIK2, were disrupted showed both growth and developmental defects, while double knockouts of DdPIK1 and DdPIK3 and DdPIK2 and DdPIK3 appear to be lethal. The delta Ddpik1 delta Ddpik2 null cells were smaller than wild-type cells and grew slowly both in association with bacteria and in axenic medium when attached to petri plates but were unable to grow in suspension in axenic medium. When delta Ddpik1 delta Ddpik2 null cells were plated for multicellular development, they formed aggregates having multiple tips and produced abnormal fruiting bodies. Antisense expression of DdPIK5 (a putative homolog of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae VPS34) led to a defect in the growth of D. discoideum cells on bacterial lawns and abnormal development. DdPIK5 complemented the temperature-sensitive growth defect of a Schizosaccharomyces pombe delta Svps34 mutant strain, suggesting DdPIK5 encodes a functional homolog of yeast Vps34p. These observations indicate that in D. discoideum, different PI kinases regulate distinct cellular processes, including cell growth, development, and protein trafficking.

Phylogenesis of fission yeasts. Contradictions surrounding the origin of a century old genus

The phylogenesis of fungi is controversial due to their simple morphology and poor fossilization. Traditional classification supported by morphological studies and physiological traits placed the fission yeasts in one group with ascomycetous yeasts. The rRNA sequence comparisons, however, revealed an enormous evolutionary gap between Saccharomyces and Schizosaccharomyces. As shown in this review, the protein sequences also show a large gap which is almost as large as that separating Schizosaccharomyces from higher animals. Since the two yeasts share features (both cytological and molecular) in common which are also characteristic of ascomycetous fungi, their separation must have taken place later than the sequence differences may suggest. Possible reasons for the paradox are discussed. The sequence data also suggest a slower evolutionary rate in the Schizosaccharomyces lineage than in the Saccharomyces branch. In the fission yeast lineage two ramifications can be supposed. First S. japonicus (Hasegawaea japonica) branched off, then S. octosporus (Octosporomyces octosporus) separated from S. pombe.

Integration of signaling information in controlling cell-fate decisions in Dictyostelium

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Comparison of the Dictyostelium rasD and ecmA genes reveals two distinct mechanisms whereby an mRNA may become enriched in prestalk cells

The Dictyostelium ras gene, rasD, encodes an mRNA that is more abundant in prestalk than prespore cells in the migratory slug. Its expression is inducible by extracellular cAMP but is not inducible by the prestalk and stalk cell morphogen differentiation inducing factor (DIF). We show that a rasD-lacZ fusion gene is first expressed in approximately one half of the cells in the aggregate, including some cells that also express a prespore-specific marker. The amount of rasD-lacZ fusion protein in prespore cells then diminishes as the slug is formed. Analysis of a rasD-lacZ fusion protein with an N terminal substitution that reduces protein stability within the cell provides strong confirmatory evidence that the ras gene product becomes enriched in prestalk cells by selective repression of gene expression in prespore cells. In contrast, the DIF-inducible ecmA gene is expressed only in those cells that will become prestalk cells in the migratory slug. These results show that there are two different ways in which an mRNA may become enriched in prestalk cells and support the view that DIF is the inducer of prestalk cell differentiation.

Investigation of the mechanism underlying the inhibitory effect of heterologous ras genes in plant cells

The ras genes from yeast and mammalian cells were fused to plant expression promoters, and introduced into plant cells via Agrobacterium, to study their effect on cell growth and development. All introduced ras genes had a strong inhibitory effect on callus and shoot regeneration from plant tissues. This is consistent with earlier findings that heterologous ras genes were highly lethal to protoplasts following direct DNA uptake. These effects could not be reversed by increasing exogenous or endogenous cytokinin levels. These effects were also independent of the v-Ha-ras mutations in functionally important regions of Ras proteins such as effector-binding and membrane-binding sites. Similarly, co-transformation with the genes encoding the Ras-negative regulators, GTPase-activating protein and neurofibromin did not affect the ras inhibitory effect, indicating that the mechanism of ras inhibition of plant cells is not related to normal ras cellular functions. This conclusion was supported by further studies in which ras gene expression was modified using various promoters and antisense constructs. The introduced ras sequences remained fully inhibitory regardless of which promoters (inducible or tissue-specific) or which orientations (sense or antisense) were tested. This strongly suggests that the ras DNA sequence itself, rather than the Ras protein or ras mRNA, is directly involved in the inhibitory effect. The mechanism underlying this novel phenomenon remains unknown. Introduced ras genes may inhibit plant cell growth by inducing co-suppression of unknown endogenous ras or ras-related genes, thereby leading to the arrest of cell growth.

Analysis of a spatially regulated phosphotyrosine phosphatase identifies tyrosine phosphorylation as a key regulatory pathway in Dictyostelium

We have cloned a Dictyostelium phosphotyrosine phosphatase (PTP1) with a catalytic domain showing approximately 38%-50% amino acid identity to those of other PTPs. PTP1 contains an approximately 99 amino acid insert and bacterially produced PTP1 possesses PTP activity. PTP1 is expressed at a very low level in vegetative cells, induced by 4 hr, and maximally expressed at the tight aggregate stage. PTP1-lacZ studies indicate that PTP1 is spatially localized to prestalk and anterior-like cell types. PTP1 gene disruptants show accelerated development, whereas strains overexpressing PTP1 to a high level fail to aggregate. Strains overexpressing moderate levels exhibit severe morphological defects following aggregation, including multiply tipped aggregates and morphologically aberrant fruiting bodies. Western blot analysis using anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies shows specific changes in the mutant strains when compared with wild-type cells. The results indicate that reversible protein-tyrosine phosphorylation and PTP1 play important regulatory roles during Dictyostelium development.

Ligand-independent reduction of cAMP receptors in Dictyostelium discoideum cells over-expressing a mutated ras gene

Drug-resistance selection in Dictyostelium discoideum transformants resulted in up to eight-times-higher ras protein levels. Over-production of the wild-type ras protein did not lead to an aberrant phenotype. Increased levels of the mutated [G12T]ras protein, however, were correlated with severe deficiencies in aggregation and development. This aberrant phenotype is associated with reduced cAMP binding, due to a lower number of cell-surface receptors. We show that both RNA and cAMP-receptor-protein levels are reduced. These results indicate that ras in Dictyostelium discoideum seems to be involved in regulating cAMP-receptor-gene expression.

Structurally distinct and stage-specific adenylyl cyclase genes play different roles in Dictyostelium development

We have isolated two adenylyl cyclase genes, designated ACA and ACG, from Dictyostelium. The proposed structure for ACA resembles that proposed for mammalian adenylyl cyclases: two large hydrophilic domains and two sets of six transmembrane spans. ACG has a novel structure, reminiscent of the membrane-bound guanylyl cyclases. An aca- mutant, created by gene disruption, has little detectable adenylyl cyclase activity and fails to aggregate, demonstrating that cAMP is required for cell-cell communication. cAMP is not required for motility, chemotaxis, growth, and cell division, which are unaffected. Constitutive expression in aca- cells of either ACA or ACG, which is normally expressed only during germination, restores aggregation and the ability to complete the developmental program. ACA expression restores receptor and guanine nucleotide-regulated adenylyl cyclase activity, while activity in cells expressing ACG is insensitive to these regulators. Although they lack ACA, which has a transporter-like structure, the cells expressing ACG secrete cAMP constitutively.

Regulation of the Dictyostelium cAMP-induced, prestalk-specific DdrasD gene: identification of cis-acting elements

We have shown previously that expression of the Dictyostelium ras gene DdrasD (previously denoted Ddras) is induced during multicellular development and in single-cell shaking culture in response to cAMP (1). Analysis of transformants carrying DdrasD/lacZ reporter constructs showed DdrasD expression to be prestalk-specific (2). The gene is transcribed from three start sites with transcription from the distal site producing an approximately 1.2 kb transcript, which is expressed at low levels in growing cells and is subsequently induced late in aggregation. This promoter is also induced to high levels by cAMP. Transcription from the two more proximal sites is coregulated and is induced during development, resulting in approximately 1.0 kb transcripts. In this study, we examine cis-acting regions required for proper regulation of DdrasD expression using a DdrasD/beta-glucuronidase reporter gene construct. We have identified distinct sequence elements required for developmental and vegetative expression of DdrasD. A domain containing a CA repeat, similar to ones found in other late, cAMP-induced Dictyostelium genes, is required for cAMP-induced and developmental expression.

Two independent promoters as well as 5' untranslated regions regulate Dd ras expression in Dictyostelium

The Dd ras gene produces three transcripts during Dictyostelium development. The largest transcript (L-) can be induced by external addition of cAMP even in cells prevented from aggregating, whereas shorter transcripts (S1- and S2-) expression requires cell aggregate formation. We show the presence of two independent promoters for L- and S-transcripts by deletion analysis of Dd ras fragments fused to CAT reporter genes reintroduced in Dictyostelium. A direct repeat upstream of S-transcript start sites which seems involved in S-promoter function, modulates also L-RNA accumulation. Furthermore removal of sequences between this repeat and the AUG protein start codon reduces the level of L-transcripts in aggregates. This study allowed to uncover the intricate pattern of sequences participating in the regulation of Dd ras expression.

Protooncogene expression in rat liver by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)

1. The expression of 10 protooncogenes was studied in control rat liver and at various times after exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), a known tumour promoter. 2. The expression of protooncogenes in liver is more pronounced in those rats treated with PCB beginning at weaning ('weanlings') than in adult rats. 3. The RNA levels of c-Ha-ras, c-raf, c-yes, c-erbA and c-erbB are elevated after PCB feeding. 4. Nuclear run-on transcription analysis revealed that the altered expression of the protooncogenes is transcriptionally regulated. 5. In one group the prompt rise of the protooncogene transcription rate is followed by a decline (c-Ha-ras, c-raf c-yes). In a second group a further increase in transcription at later feeding times (c-erbA, c-erbB) was observed. 6. A correlation between the altered expression of these protooncogenes and the action of PCB as a tumour promotor remains to be determined.

Isolation of two genes encoding putative protein kinases regulated during Dictyostelium discoideum development

Two Dictyostelium discoideum protein kinase(PK)-encoding cDNAs (Dd PK1 and Dd PK2) have been isolated by hybridization with an oligodeoxyribonucleotide derived from a highly conserved region of eukaryotic PKs. The two nucleotide (nt) sequences encode new putative serine/threonine-specific PKs. Dd PK1 is a partial cDNA covering the entire catalytic domain. The derived amino acid (aa) sequence is about 30% identical to both cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAPK) and protein kinase C. The Dd PK2 sequence was extended through the isolation of a genomic fragment encoding a complete putative protein. A single intron is present, as deduced from sequence comparison with the cDNA. The catalytic domain appears more closely related to the catalytic subunit of cAPK (54% sequence identity). However, our nt sequence potentially codes for a much larger protein (648 vs. about 350 aa for most cAPKs) with a N-terminal half containing long homopolymers of threonines, glutamines and asparagines. Similar repeats occur at the C terminus of Dd PK1, Dd PK1 is expressed in vegetatively growing cells and during development. Dd PK1 RNA decreases after 6 h of starvation to re-accumulate once the cells have aggregated. Dd PK2 transcripts, present at a low amount in growing cells, rise upon starvation. A switch to a shorter form of transcripts occurs between 3 and 6 h into development.

Fermentable sugars and intracellular acidification as specific activators of the RAS-adenylate cyclase signalling pathway in yeast: the relationship to nutrient-induced cell cycle control

The RAS proteins of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae fulfil a similar control function on yeast adenylate cyclase as the mammalian Gs proteins on mammalian adenylate cyclase. The discovery that glucose and other fermentable sugars act as specific activators of the RAS-adenylate cyclase pathway in yeast appeared to offer a mechanism for the way in which at least one nutrient would control progression over the start point in the G1 phase of the yeast cell cycle by means of this pathway. Recently, however, evidence has been obtained to show that the glucose-activation pathway of adenylate cyclase is a glucose-repressible pathway and therefore not operative during growth on glucose. In addition, mutant strains were obtained which lack the glucose-activation pathway and show normal exponential growth on glucose. This appears to confine the physiological role of this pathway to control of the transition from the derepressed state (growth on respirative carbon sources) to the repressed state (growth on fermentative carbon sources) by means of an already well-documented cAMP-triggered protein phosphorylation cascade. Intracellular acidification also stimulates the RAS-adenylate cyclase pathway, which might constitute a rescue mechanism for cells suffering from stress conditions. The presence of a nitrogen source does not stimulate the RAS-adenylate cyclase pathway. Although other nutrient signals for the pathway might still be discovered, it appears more and more likely that the well-known requirement of cAMP for progression over the start point of the yeast cell cycle is limited to providing a basal cAMP level rather than acting as a second messenger for an extracellular signal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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.