Abstract
Recent studies have demonstrated that G-protein-linked signal transduction pathways play a significant role in the developmental program of the simple eukaryotic organism Dictyostelium. We have reported previously the isolation of a G-protein β-subunit and present here a more complete analysis of this gene. Low-stringency Southern blots and RFLP mapping studies suggest that the β-subunit is a unique gene found on linkage group II. Its deduced amino acid sequence of 347 residues is ∼60% identical to those of the human, Drosophila, and Caenorhabditis elegans β-subunits. The carboxy-terminal 300 residues are about 70% identical; the amino-terminal 50 residues are quite divergent, containing only 10 identities. At all stages of growth and development, a single 1.9-kb β-subunit mRNA is present at a high level, and a specific antibody detects a single 37-kD protein. We propose that G-protein heterotrimers are formed when this β-subunit couples with each of the eight distinct G-protein α-subunits that are transiently expressed during development. Targeted disruption of the β-subunit gene had no effect on the viability of haploid cells, but resulted in the inability of cells to aggregate.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 986-995 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Genes & development |
Volume | 7 |
Issue number | 6 |
State | Published - Jun 1993 |
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Keywords
- Chemotaxis
- Gene targeting
- Heterotrimeric G-proteins
- Signal transduction
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
Cite this
A G-protein β-subunit is essential for Dictyostelium development. / Lilly, Pamela; Wu, Lijun; Welker, Dennis L.; Devreotes, Peter N.
In: Genes & development, Vol. 7, No. 6, 06.1993, p. 986-995.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A G-protein β-subunit is essential for Dictyostelium development
AU - Lilly, Pamela
AU - Wu, Lijun
AU - Welker, Dennis L.
AU - Devreotes, Peter N
PY - 1993/6
Y1 - 1993/6
N2 - Recent studies have demonstrated that G-protein-linked signal transduction pathways play a significant role in the developmental program of the simple eukaryotic organism Dictyostelium. We have reported previously the isolation of a G-protein β-subunit and present here a more complete analysis of this gene. Low-stringency Southern blots and RFLP mapping studies suggest that the β-subunit is a unique gene found on linkage group II. Its deduced amino acid sequence of 347 residues is ∼60% identical to those of the human, Drosophila, and Caenorhabditis elegans β-subunits. The carboxy-terminal 300 residues are about 70% identical; the amino-terminal 50 residues are quite divergent, containing only 10 identities. At all stages of growth and development, a single 1.9-kb β-subunit mRNA is present at a high level, and a specific antibody detects a single 37-kD protein. We propose that G-protein heterotrimers are formed when this β-subunit couples with each of the eight distinct G-protein α-subunits that are transiently expressed during development. Targeted disruption of the β-subunit gene had no effect on the viability of haploid cells, but resulted in the inability of cells to aggregate.
AB - Recent studies have demonstrated that G-protein-linked signal transduction pathways play a significant role in the developmental program of the simple eukaryotic organism Dictyostelium. We have reported previously the isolation of a G-protein β-subunit and present here a more complete analysis of this gene. Low-stringency Southern blots and RFLP mapping studies suggest that the β-subunit is a unique gene found on linkage group II. Its deduced amino acid sequence of 347 residues is ∼60% identical to those of the human, Drosophila, and Caenorhabditis elegans β-subunits. The carboxy-terminal 300 residues are about 70% identical; the amino-terminal 50 residues are quite divergent, containing only 10 identities. At all stages of growth and development, a single 1.9-kb β-subunit mRNA is present at a high level, and a specific antibody detects a single 37-kD protein. We propose that G-protein heterotrimers are formed when this β-subunit couples with each of the eight distinct G-protein α-subunits that are transiently expressed during development. Targeted disruption of the β-subunit gene had no effect on the viability of haploid cells, but resulted in the inability of cells to aggregate.
KW - Chemotaxis
KW - Gene targeting
KW - Heterotrimeric G-proteins
KW - Signal transduction
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0027241584&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0027241584&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 8099335
AN - SCOPUS:0027241584
VL - 7
SP - 986
EP - 995
JO - Genes and Development
JF - Genes and Development
SN - 0890-9369
IS - 6
ER -