Generation of cell polarity in Dictyostelium development

盘基网柄菌的极性受外界信号的控制。一旦发生趋化信号，细胞就会极化。在这个极化过程中，细胞骨架和信号分子的组成部分都参与其中。在向食物来源的趋化运动中，在生长中的细胞中观察到Dictyostelius的细胞极化，它也发生在吞噬酵母颗粒和巨噬细胞事件的过程中。然而，细胞的极化状态在发育和形态发生过程中最为突出。发育始于聚集过程中高度伸长的细胞的形成，此时细胞利用对cAMP的趋化作用形成多细胞有机体。趋化运动在所有随后的形态发生过程中仍然是决定因素，最终导致子实体的形成。这项建议的目标是研究细胞极化的要求，重点是细胞在不同发育阶段的细胞骨架成分的特征，为细胞极化提供基础。除了专注于单一成分，这将在Dictyostants缺乏极化的突变体中完成，我们将利用Dictyostants基因组计划提供的可能性。

Polarity in Dictyostelium discoideum is controlled by external signals. Upon a chemotactic signal cells polarize. In this polarisation process components of the cytoskeleton and signalling molecules are involved. Cell polarisation in Dictyostelium is observed in growing cells during chemotactic movements towards the food source, it also takes place during phagocytic uptake of yeast particles and macropinocytic events. The polarised state of the cells is however most prominent during development and morphogenesis. Development starts with the formation of highly elongated cells during aggregation when cells use chemotaxis towards cAMP to form a multicellular organism. Chemotactic motility continues to be the determining factor during all subsequent morphogenetic events which finally lead to the formation of a fruiting body. Goal of this proposal is to study the requirements for cell polarisation with emphasis on the characterisation of the cytoskeletal components of cells during various stages of development that provide the basis for cell polarisation. In addition to focussing on single components which will be done in Dictyostelium mutants deficient in polarisation we will make use of the possibilities offered by the Dictyostelium genome project.