title: Molecular characterization of anterior-like cells in Dictyostelium discoideum.
abstract: Prestalk cells are found in the anterior 15% of slugs of Dictyostelium discoideum and prespore cells are found in the remaining posterior portions. Neutral red staining as well as immunostaining with antisera prepared against spores or a spore-coat protein has indicated that there are cells in the posterior region which have properties similar to prestalk cells. This cell population, called anterior-like cells, has been isolated by density separation of posterior slug fractions. This anterior-like cell preparation contained approximately 80% neutral red-stained cells, none of which carried a surface antigen specific to prespore cells (MUD-1 antigen). These cells also lacked antigens recognized by antisera to the spore-coat proteins or by a prespore-specific monoclonal antibody isolated for this study (mLJ1). Anterior-like cells were found to modify the lysosomal enzymes acid phosphatase and alpha-mannosidase in a manner found specifically in prestalk cells. They also synthesized two prestalk-specific proteins and contain two prestalk-specific mRNA transcripts. Anterior-like cells also failed to express a large number of prespore-specific characteristics. Although very similar to prestalk cells, anterior-like cells differ from them in that they express a prespore-specific protein PSP59 and the levels of the prestalk-specific mRNA transcripts and one of the prestalk-specific proteins ST430 appear to be lower.
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004023:Dictyostelium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007526:Isoelectric Point; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D008970:Molecular Weight; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000135:Acid Phosphatase