title: PTEN plays a role in the suppression of lateral pseudopod formation during Dictyostelium motility and chemotaxis.
abstract: It has been suggested that the phosphatydylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate [PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3)] phosphatase and tensin homolog PTEN plays a fundamental role in Dictyostelium discoideum chemotaxis. To identify that role, the behavior of a pten(-) mutant was quantitatively analyzed using two-dimensional and three-dimensional computer-assisted methods. pten(-) cells were capable of polarizing and translocating in the absence of attractant, and sensing and responding to spatial gradients, temporal gradients and natural waves of attractant. However, all of these responses were compromised (i.e. less efficient) because of the fundamental incapacity of pten(-) cells to suppress lateral pseudopod formation and turning. This defect was equally manifested in the absence, as well as presence, of attractant. PTEN, which is constitutively localized in the cortex of polarized cells, was found essential for the attractant-stimulated increase in cortical myosin II and F-actin that is responsible for the increased suppression of pseudopods during chemotaxis. PTEN, therefore, plays a fundamental role in the suppression of lateral pseudopod formation, a process essential for the efficiency of locomotion and chemotaxis, but not in directional sensing.
authors.affiliation: W. M. Keck Dynamic Image Analysis Facility, Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wessels
authors.forename: Daniel F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Lusche
authors.forename: Spencer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuhl
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heid
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Soll
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000502:physiology; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000502:physiology*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D004023:Dictyostelium / Q000502:physiology; D024462:Myosin Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011554:Pseudopodia / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; D024462:Myosin Type II