Biomaterial Database

Cyclic AMP and Ca2+ as regulators of zygote formation in the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium mucoroides. 1992

T Suzuki, and A Amagai, and Y Maeda

Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Yamagata University, Japan.

To analyze the mechanism of the sexual process (macrocyst formation) in the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium mucoroides-7 (Dm7), the effects of 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), conditioned medium (CM) factors, and various ions including Ca2+ on zygote formation were examined. The application of cAMP was found to inhibit the sexual cell fusion. In addition, the activity of fusion inhibitor(s) contained in CM was heat stable and lost by phosphodiesterase (PDE)-treatment, thus indicating that cAMP is the inhibitor, being in contrast to ethylene as a fusion activator. Pulse experiments using two cAMP analogues, 2'-deoxy-cAMP and 8-bromo-cAMP suggested that the signal transduction system through the cell surface cAMP receptor is of particular importance for regulation of the sexual fusion process. Among several ions having effects on zygote formation, Ca2+ seemed to be necessary both for the acquisition of fusion competence and for cell fusion itself. In the presence of Ca2+, K+ and Na+ had the opposite effects on zygote formation; K+ was stimulative, while Na+ inhibitory. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to the regulatory mechanism of zygote formation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007700	Kinetics	The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D008561	Membrane Fusion	The adherence and merging of cell membranes, intracellular membranes, or artificial membranes to each other or to viruses, parasites, or interstitial particles through a variety of chemical and physical processes.	Fusion, Membrane,Fusions, Membrane,Membrane Fusions
D002118	Calcium	A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes.	Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D002414	Cations, Monovalent	Positively charged atoms, radicals or group of atoms with a valence of plus 1, which travel to the cathode or negative pole during electrolysis.	Monovalent Cation,Cation, Monovalent,Monovalent Cations
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
D000242	Cyclic AMP	An adenine nucleotide containing one phosphate group which is esterified to both the 3'- and 5'-positions of the sugar moiety. It is a second messenger and a key intracellular regulator, functioning as a mediator of activity for a number of hormones, including epinephrine, glucagon, and ACTH.	Adenosine Cyclic 3',5'-Monophosphate,Adenosine Cyclic 3,5 Monophosphate,Adenosine Cyclic Monophosphate,Adenosine Cyclic-3',5'-Monophosphate,Cyclic AMP, (R)-Isomer,Cyclic AMP, Disodium Salt,Cyclic AMP, Monoammonium Salt,Cyclic AMP, Monopotassium Salt,Cyclic AMP, Monosodium Salt,Cyclic AMP, Sodium Salt,3',5'-Monophosphate, Adenosine Cyclic,AMP, Cyclic,Adenosine Cyclic 3',5' Monophosphate,Cyclic 3',5'-Monophosphate, Adenosine,Cyclic Monophosphate, Adenosine,Cyclic-3',5'-Monophosphate, Adenosine,Monophosphate, Adenosine Cyclic
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
D015124	8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate	A long-acting derivative of cyclic AMP. It is an activator of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, but resistant to degradation by cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase.	8-Bromo-cAMP,8-Br Cyclic AMP,8-Bromo Cyclic AMP,8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate, Monosodium Salt,8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate, Sodium Salt,8-Bromoadenosine 3',5'-Cyclic Monophosphate,Br Cycl AMP,8 Br Cyclic AMP,8 Bromo Cyclic AMP,8 Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate,8 Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate, Monosodium Salt,8 Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate, Sodium Salt,8 Bromo cAMP,8 Bromoadenosine 3',5' Cyclic Monophosphate,AMP, Br Cycl,Cyclic AMP, 8-Br,Cyclic AMP, 8-Bromo