title: RapGAP9 regulation of the morphogenesis and development in Dictyostelium.
abstract: Recent reports have demonstrated that the importance of Rap1-specific GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) in the spatial and temporal regulation of Rap1 activity during cell migration and development in Dictyostelium. Here, we identified another putative Rap1 GAP-domain containing protein, showing high sequence homologies with those of human Rap1GAP and Dictyotelium RapGAP3, by bioinformatic search. Loss of RapGAP9 resulted in some defects in morphogenesis and development in Dicytostelium. rapGAP9 null cells were more flattened and spread, and highly multinucleated. Compared to wild-type cells, cells lacking RapGAP9 exhibited increased levels of F-actin and more filopodia. These results suggest that RapGAP9 is involved in the regulation of cytoskeleton reorganization and cytokinesis. rapGAP9 null cells showed a small increase of cell-substratum attachment and slightly lower moving speed and directionality compared to wild-type cells. In addition, the loss of RapGAP9 resulted in an altered morphology of fruiting body with a shorter length of stalk and spore. Identification and characterization of RapGAP9 in this study will provide further insights into the molecular mechanism by which Rap1 regulates cytoskeleton reorganization and morphogenesis in Dictyostelium.
authors: Department of Biology & BK21 - Plus Research Team for Bioactive Control Technology, College of Natural Sciences, Chosun University, Gwangju 501-759, Republic of Korea.
authors: Hyemin
authors: H
authors: Mun
authors: Department of Biology & BK21 - Plus Research Team for Bioactive Control Technology, College of Natural Sciences, Chosun University, Gwangju 501-759, Republic of Korea.
authors: Mi-Rae
authors: MR
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Biology & BK21 - Plus Research Team for Bioactive Control Technology, College of Natural Sciences, Chosun University, Gwangju 501-759, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: tjeon@chosun.ac.kr.
authors: Taeck J
authors: TJ
authors: Jeon
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D049108:Cell Enlargement; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D048429:Cell Size; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000502:physiology*; D004023:Dictyostelium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D020827:rap1 GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020827:rap1 GTP-Binding Proteins
keywords: Cell adhesion; Cell migration; Cytokinesis; Cytoskeleton; Dictyostelium