title: Regulation of cell-cell adhesion during Dictyostelium development.
abstract: During development of Dictyostelium, four adhesion systems have been identified and adherens junction-like structures have been discovered in the fruiting body. The temporal and spatial expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) is under stringent developmental control, corresponding to major shifts in morphological complexity. Genetic manipulations, including over-expression and knockout mutations, of the adhesion genes, cadA (encoding DdCAD-1), csaA (gp80) and lagC (gp150), have shed light on new roles for cell adhesion molecules in aggregate size regulation, cell-type proportioning, cell differentiation and cell sorting. As cell-cell interactions remain highly dynamic within cell streams and aggregates, mechanisms must exist to facilitate the rapid assembly and disassembly of adhesion complexes. Studies on gp80 have led to a model for the rapid assembly of adhesion complexes via lipid rafts.
authors.affiliation: Banting and Best Department of Medical Research and Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 112 College Street, Toronto, Ont., Canada M5G 1L6. chi.hung.siu@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Chi-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Siu
authors.forename: Tony J C
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Estella
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D004023:Dictyostelium / Q000502:physiology*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008954:Models, Biological; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules