Dictyostelium
- Akt and SGK protein kinases are required for efficient feeding by macropinocytosis
Summary: Dictyostelium feed by macropinocytosis in a PIP3-dependent manner. Macropinosomes are smaller and fluid uptake is nearly abolished in cells lacking either PI3Ks or the downstream kinases PkbA and PkbR1.
- Localization of all four ZnT zinc transporters in Dictyostelium and impact of ZntA and ZntB knockout on bacteria killing
Highlighted Article: Metal poisoning is one of the bactericidal strategies of macrophages. Here, we describe the dynamics of free Zn2+ and the role of Zn2+ transporters during phagocytosis in Dictyostelium.
- Calcium influx mediates the chemoattractant-induced translocation of the arrestin-related protein AdcC in Dictyostelium
Summary: The multimodular arrestin-related protein AdcC from Dictyostelium responds to a calcium increase by translocating to the plasma membrane in a C2- and SAM domain-dependent manner.
- Adenylyl cyclase A mRNA localized at the back of cells is actively translated in live chemotaxing Dictyostelium
Summary: The relay of cAMP signals is essential for streaming during Dictyostelium chemotaxis. We report the dynamic enrichment and translation of the mRNA encoding adenylyl cyclase A at the back of cells during this process.
- The cytoskeleton regulates symmetry transitions in moving amoeboid cells
Summary: Dynamic shape changes of amoeboid cells are far from random, but are the consequence of refined symmetries and symmetry changes that are orchestrated by small G-proteins and the cytoskeleton.
- The physiological regulation of macropinocytosis during Dictyostelium growth and development
Highlighted Article: A high-throughput flow cytometry assay is used to examine the regulation of macropinocytosis during transitions between feeding modes (macropinocytic and phagocytic) and entry into development in Dictyostelium. Macropinocytosis inhibitors are assessed.
- The polymorphic proteins TgrB1 and TgrC1 function as a ligand–receptor pair in Dictyostelium allorecognition
Highlighted Article: Two polymorphic membrane proteins that mediate allorecognition in Dictyostelium function as a ligand–receptor pair and their binding activates a signaling mechanism that is required for cooperative aggregation and differentiation.
- Extracellular polyphosphate signals through Ras and Akt to prime Dictyostelium discoideum cells for development
Summary: Polyphosphate is present in all eukaryotes, but little is known about its function. Here, we describe how Dictyostelium uses polyphosphate as a signal to initiate development.
- Mroh1, a lysosomal regulator localized by WASH-generated actin
Highlighted Article: An unusual FACS-based screen using Dictyostelium identifies Mroh1 – a conserved protein with HEAT repeats – as a WASH and F-actin target that is important for constitutive exocytosis of lysosomes.
- A new HECT ubiquitin ligase regulating chemotaxis and development in Dictyostelium discoideum
Highlighted Article: Disrupting a new HECT ubiquitin ligase restores chemotaxis and development in a Dictyostelium mutant deficient in the Pia subunit of the TORC2 complex (Rictor in mammals), which regulates cAMP relay and cell migration.