title: Analysis of G alpha 4, a G-protein subunit required for multicellular development in Dictyostelium.
abstract: The Dictyostelium G alpha 4 gene encodes a G-protein alpha subunit that is primarily expressed during the multicellular stages of development. g alpha 4 null mutants, created by gene disruption, show aberrant morphological differentiation, reduced levels of prespore gene expression, and a loss of the ability to produce spores. These developmental phenotypes can be rescued by complementation with the wild-type gene. Cells that overexpress the G alpha 4 gene (G alpha 4HC) also show reduced spore production but display an aberrant morphological phenotype distinct from that of g alpha 4 cells. The g alpha 4 phenotype can be partially rescued by the presence of wild-type or G alpha 4HC cells in chimeric organisms, suggesting that G alpha 4-expressing cells produce an intercellular signal that is essential for multicellular development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Center for Molecular Genetics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0634.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hadwiger
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Firtel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004023:Dictyostelium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D005800:Genes, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins