title: Analysis of the disruption mutant of the oscillin homolog gene of Dictyostelium discoideum.
abstract: A homolog of oscillin, the Ca2+ oscillation-inducing factor of the hamster, was identified from the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum and designated Dd-oscillin. In the developmental stages of D. discoideum, the gene is expressed at the prestalk region which contains a higher concentration of cytosolic Ca2+ than the prespore region. The Dd-oscillin null strain aggregated but did not develop further when the cells were plated on non-nutrient agar at a density of 1.5x10(6) cells/cm2, showing that the Dd-oscillin gene is important for development. Since the null cells carrying the hamster oscillin gene formed fruiting body, the hamster oscillin was the homolog of Dd-oscillin as far as function is concerned. In addition, the null cells formed fruiting body in the presence of 2,5-di(tert-butyl)-1,4-hydroquinone (BHQ: a specific inhibitor of Ca2+-ATPase activity in the endoplasmic reticulum). These results suggest that Dd-oscillin will increase cytosolic Ca2+ in the cells and promote further development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Masamune
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kodaira
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yasukawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D006224:Cricetinae; D004023:Dictyostelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D006873:Hydroquinones / Q000494:pharmacology; D009154:Mutation; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006873:Hydroquinones; D011506:Proteins; C097705:oscillin; C019359:2,5-di-tert-butylhydroquinone; D002118:Calcium