title: Oscillatory signaling and network responses during the development of Dictyostelium discoideum.
abstract: Periodic biological variations reflect interactions among molecules and cells, or even organisms. The Dictyostelium cAMP oscillatory circuit is a highly robust example. cAMP oscillations in Dictyostelium arise intracellularly by a complex interplay of activating and inhibiting pathways, are transmitted extracellularly, and synchronize an entire local population. Once established, cAMP signal-relay persists stably for hours. On a two-dimensional surface, >100,000 cells may form a single coordinated territory. In suspension culture, >10(10) cells can oscillate in harmony. This review focuses on molecular mechanisms that cyclically activate and attenuate signal propagation and on chemotactic responses to oscillatory wave progression.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular and Developmental Biology, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-8028, USA.
authors.forename: Vanessa C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: McMains
authors.forename: Xin-Hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Alan R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kimmel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks; D002633:Chemotaxis; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism*; D004023:Dictyostelium / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000242:Cyclic AMP