title: Shortening of the cell cycle and developmental interruption in a Dictyostelium  discoideum  cell line due to RNAi-silenced expression of allantoicase.
abstract: The signaling molecules NH(3) (unprotonated  volatile ammonia), as well as cyclic adenosine monophosphate and  differentiation-inducing factor, play important roles in the multicellular  development of the slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum. One of the  downstream metabolic products catalyzed by allantoicase (allC) is ammonia. We  observed the role of allC by RNAi-mediated manipulation of its expression. The  allC gene of D. discoideum was silenced by RNAi. We found significant  downregulation of allC mRNA and protein expression levels. Recombinant allC  RNAi mutant cell lines had a shortened cell cycle, a reduction in cell size  relative to wild-type cells and interrupted development. We conclude that the  normal functions of allC include retarding cell division until a specific cell  size is reached and coordinating the progression of development.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Hou
mesh_terms: D002453:Cell Cycle; D002460:Cell Line; D048429:Cell Size; D004023:Dictyostelium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014512:Ureohydrolases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014512:Ureohydrolases; C019658:allantoicase