title: Effects of protein synthesis inhibition on the transcription and transcript stability of Dictyostelium prespore genes.
abstract: The in vivo accumulation of several prespore transcripts of Dictyostelium discoideum has previously been shown to depend upon concomitant protein synthesis (Ratner, D.I., Pentz, W.H. and Pelletier, D.A. (1989) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1008, 71-78). Measurements of in vivo mRNA decay and nuclear run-on transcription assays have now been used to learn whether protein synthesis is required primarily for mRNA synthesis or transcript stability. The translational inhibitors cycloheximide and pactamycin stabilized existing prespore transcripts, despite their effect upon mRNA accumulation. Transcriptional assays, performed at intervals throughout the developmental cycle, demonstrated that temporal changes in the abundance of several cell-specific transcripts correlated closely with changes in their rates of synthesis. Finally, blocking protein synthesis strongly inhibited the transcription of the prespore genes examined. These results imply that one or more developmentally regulated, labile proteins are needed for the activation of prespore gene transcription.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Amherst College, MA 01002.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: DeSilver
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Benedict
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Ratner
mesh_terms: D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004023:Dictyostelium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D007700:Kinetics; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010142:Pactamycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D010957:Plasmids; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012331:RNA, Fungal / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D013172:Spores, Fungal; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D012331:RNA, Fungal; D010142:Pactamycin; D003513:Cycloheximide