title: SrfB, a member of the Serum Response Factor family of transcription factors, regulates starvation response and early development in Dictyostelium.
abstract: The Serum Response Factor (SRF) is an important regulator of cell proliferation and differentiation. Dictyostelium discoideum srfB gene codes for an SRF homologue and is expressed in vegetative cells and during development under the control of three alternative promoters, which show different cell-type specific patterns of expression. The two more proximal promoters directed gene transcription in prestalk AB, stalk and lower-cup cells. The generation of a strain where the srfB gene has been interrupted (srfB(-)) has shown that this gene is required for regulation of actin-cytoskeleton-related functions, such as cytokinesis and macropinocytosis. The mutant failed to develop well in suspension, but could be rescued by cAMP pulsing, suggesting a defect in cAMP signaling. srfB(-) cells showed impaired chemotaxis to cAMP and defective lateral pseudopodium inhibition. Nevertheless, srfB(-) cells aggregated on agar plates and nitrocellulose filters 2 h earlier than wild type cells, and completed development, showing an increased tendency to form slug structures. Analysis of wild type and srfB(-) strains detected significant differences in the regulation of gene expression upon starvation. Genes coding for lysosomal and ribosomal proteins, developmentally-regulated genes, and some genes coding for proteins involved in cytoskeleton regulation were deregulated during the first stages of development.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas CSIC/UAM. Arturo Duperier, 4. 28029 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galardi-Castilla
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pergolizzi
authors.forename: Gareth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bloomfield
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Skelton
authors.forename: Al
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ivens
authors.forename: Robert R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Kay
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bozzaro
authors.forename: Leandro
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sastre
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D048749:Cytokinesis / Q000502:physiology; D004023:Dictyostelium / Q000502:physiology*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D010873:Pinocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D050801:Ternary Complex Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D050801:Ternary Complex Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors