The effect of ammonia on cell-type-specific enzyme accumulation in Dictyostelium discoideum.
We have shown that ammonia inhibits stalk cell formation and promotes spore formation during cyclic AMP induced differentiation of monolayers of sporogenous amoebae (Gross, J.D. et al., Nature (London), 303, 244-245, 1983). Here we show that exposure to ammonia favours the accumulation of prespore- over prestalk-specific enzymes and related products. We conclude that ammonia switches cells from the prestalk to the prespore pathway rather than simply inhibiting stalk cell maturation and hence may act as a morphogen during development.
Bradbury
J M
JM
Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, England.
Gross
J D
JD
D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000641:Ammonia / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004023:Dictyostelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development*; D005700:Galactosyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005796:Genes / Q000187:drug effects*; D005800:Genes, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects
D000641:Ammonia; D005700:Galactosyltransferases; C023241:UDPgalactose polysaccharide transferase; D000135:Acid Phosphatase