title: A cell number counting factor alters cell metabolism.
abstract: It is still not clear how organisms regulate the size of appendages or organs during development. During development, Dictyostelium discoideum cells form groups of approximately 2 x 10(4) cells. The cells secrete a protein complex called counting factor (CF) that allows them to sense the local cell density. If there are too many cells in a group, as indicated by high extracellular concentrations of CF, the cells break up the group by decreasing cell-cell adhesion and increasing random cell motility. As a part of the signal transduction pathway, CF decreases the activity of glucose-6-phosphatase to decrease internal glucose levels. CF also decreases the levels of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate and increases the levels of glucose-6-phosphate and fructose-6-phosphate. In this report, we focus on how a secreted signal used to regulate the size of a group of cells regulates many basic aspects of cell metabolism, including the levels of pyruvate, lactate, and ATP, and oxygen consumption.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science; Dongguk University; Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Wonhee
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Owen G
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Gomer