Regulation of dictyostelium discoideum mRNAs specific for prespore or prestalk cells

Eric Barklis, Harvey F. Lodish

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

160 Scopus citations

Abstract

Prespore and prestalk cells in Dictyostelium discoideum aggregates can be separated by density gradient centrifugation. Using poly(A+) RNA from the fractionated cells to probe a cDNA library of mRNAs from postaggregation cells, we were able to identify six cDNA clones representing RNAs enriched in prespore or prestalk cells. Remarkably, transcripts of six of seven cDNA clones, previously selected to encode mRNAs present in postaggregating cells but low or absent in growing cells, also are enriched in RNA from either prestalk or prespore cells. By hybridization of cDNA probes to nitrocellulose blots of formaldehyde RNA gels, these 13 mRNA species have been examined with respect to cell type specificity, temporal pattern of accumulation, and affect of disaggregation and cAMP on accumulation. Aggregation-stage mRNAs tend to fit into three different classes. All prespore mRNAs are similar in all aspects of their regulation, while prestalk mRNAs fall into two co-regulated classes. All mRNAs that are present at significant levels during growth and differentiation are found in both cell types at comparable levels. Our results indicate that there is coordinate control of expression of genes specific for the two principal cell types.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1139-1148
Number of pages10
JournalCell
Volume32
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1983
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)

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