title: Chemical structure of the morphogen differentiation inducing factor from Dictyostelium discoideum.
abstract: Morphogens are signal molecules presumed to exist in embryos and to be involved in establishing the spatial pattern of cells during development. Differentiation inducing factor (DIF) has the properties of a morphogen required for producing the prestalk/prespore pattern in the aggregate formed by cells of the slime mould Dictyostelium in response to starvation. DIF-1, the major bioactive species after purification, has now been identified using a combined microchemical, spectroscopic and synthetic approach. The structure is defined as 1-(3,5-dichloro-2,6-dihydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-1-hexanone, and represents a new class of effector molecule. The availability of relatively large quantities of synthetic and isotopically labelled materials should now allow progress towards a detailed understanding of the pattern-forming processes in Dictyostelium development.
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D004023:Dictyostelium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000166:cytology; D006588:Hexanones / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007659:Ketones / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009024:Morphogenesis; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
chemical_list: D006588:Hexanones; D007659:Ketones; C053433:1-((3,5-dichloro)-2,6-dihydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-1-hexanone