Biomaterial Database

Giant vacuoles observed in Dictyostelium discoideum. 2001

A Yuan, and C P Chia

School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0118, USA. dyuan@unlserve.unl.edu

Large intracellular vacuoles, >4 microm in diameter and either round or oval-shaped, were observed infrequently in Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae of axenically-grown strain AX2 (only 1 in 10(6)-10(8)cells). These previously unreported single or multiple 'giant' vacuoles were more common, however, in newly germinated KAX3 cells (0.55% of the population) and AT-K(neg), a strain that lacks an esterase (0.47% of the population). A vacuolar H(+)-ATPase was enriched in their membranes of intracellular giant vacuoles, indicating that the vacuoles were related possibly to both endosomes and the contractile vacuole compartment. When monitored over time, giant vacuoles protruded from, and retracted back into cells under hyperosmotic conditions, suggesting an osmoregulatory role for these vacuoles. Some of the intracellular and protruded giant vacuoles harbored a fluid-phase marker, fluorescein-labeled dextran, implying a pinocytotic origin for the vacuoles.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010873	Pinocytosis	The engulfing of liquids by cells by a process of invagination and closure of the cell membrane to form fluid-filled vacuoles.	Pinocytoses
D003911	Dextrans	A group of glucose polymers made by certain bacteria. Dextrans are used therapeutically as plasma volume expanders and anticoagulants. They are also commonly used in biological experimentation and in industry for a wide variety of purposes.	Dextran,Dextran 40,Dextran 40000,Dextran 70,Dextran 75,Dextran 80,Dextran B-1355,Dextran B-1355-S,Dextran B1355,Dextran B512,Dextran Derivatives,Dextran M 70,Dextran T 70,Dextran T-40,Dextran T-500,Hemodex,Hyskon,Infukoll,Macrodex,Polyglucin,Promit,Rheodextran,Rheoisodex,Rheomacrodex,Rheopolyglucin,Rondex,Saviosol,Dextran B 1355,Dextran B 1355 S,Dextran T 40,Dextran T 500
D004023	Dictyostelium	A genus of protozoa, formerly also considered a fungus. Its natural habitat is decaying forest leaves, where it feeds on bacteria. D. discoideum is the best-known species and is widely used in biomedical research.	Dictyostelium discoideum,Dictyostelium discoideums,Dictyosteliums,discoideum, Dictyostelium
D004950	Esterases	Any member of the class of enzymes that catalyze the cleavage of an ester bond and result in the addition of water to the resulting molecules.	Esterase
D005456	Fluorescent Dyes	Chemicals that emit light after excitation by light. The wave length of the emitted light is usually longer than that of the incident light. Fluorochromes are substances that cause fluorescence in other substances, i.e., dyes used to mark or label other compounds with fluorescent tags.	Flourescent Agent,Fluorescent Dye,Fluorescent Probe,Fluorescent Probes,Fluorochrome,Fluorochromes,Fluorogenic Substrates,Fluorescence Agents,Fluorescent Agents,Fluorogenic Substrate,Agents, Fluorescence,Agents, Fluorescent,Dyes, Fluorescent,Probes, Fluorescent,Substrates, Fluorogenic
D006180	Proton-Translocating ATPases	Multisubunit enzymes that reversibly synthesize ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATE. They are coupled to the transport of protons across a membrane.	ATP Dependent Proton Translocase,ATPase, F0,ATPase, F1,Adenosinetriphosphatase F1,F(1)F(0)-ATPase,F1 ATPase,H(+)-Transporting ATP Synthase,H(+)-Transporting ATPase,H(+)ATPase Complex,Proton-Translocating ATPase,Proton-Translocating ATPase Complex,Proton-Translocating ATPase Complexes,ATPase, F(1)F(0),ATPase, F0F1,ATPase, H(+),Adenosine Triphosphatase Complex,F(0)F(1)-ATP Synthase,F-0-ATPase,F-1-ATPase,F0F1 ATPase,F1-ATPase,F1F0 ATPase Complex,H(+)-ATPase,H(+)-Transporting ATP Synthase, Acyl-Phosphate-Linked,H+ ATPase,H+ Transporting ATP Synthase,H+-Translocating ATPase,Proton-Translocating ATPase, F0 Sector,Proton-Translocating ATPase, F1 Sector,ATPase Complex, Proton-Translocating,ATPase Complexes, Proton-Translocating,ATPase, H+,ATPase, H+-Translocating,ATPase, Proton-Translocating,Complex, Adenosine Triphosphatase,Complexes, Proton-Translocating ATPase,F 0 ATPase,F 1 ATPase,F0 ATPase,H+ Translocating ATPase,Proton Translocating ATPase,Proton Translocating ATPase Complex,Proton Translocating ATPase Complexes,Proton Translocating ATPase, F0 Sector,Proton Translocating ATPase, F1 Sector,Triphosphatase Complex, Adenosine
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014617	Vacuoles	Any spaces or cavities within a cell. They may function in digestion, storage, secretion, or excretion.	Vacuole
D016650	Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate	Fluorescent probe capable of being conjugated to tissue and proteins. It is used as a label in fluorescent antibody staining procedures as well as protein- and amino acid-binding techniques.	FITC,5-Isothiocyanatofluorescein,Fluorescein (5 or 6)-Isothiocyanate,Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate Hydrochloride,5 Isothiocyanatofluorescein,Fluorescein 5 isothiocyanate,Fluorescein 5 isothiocyanate Hydrochloride,Hydrochloride, Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate