Mechano-chemical signaling maintains the rapid movement of Dictyostelium cells

Journal Article · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 2008 · Experimental Cell Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yexcr.2008.02.001· OSTI ID:21128182

Lombardi, M L; Knecht, D A ^[1]

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1. Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269 (United States)

The survival of Dictyostelium cells depends on their ability to efficiently chemotax, either towards food or to form multicellular aggregates. Although the involvement of Ca{sup 2+} signaling during chemotaxis is well known, it is not clear how this regulates cell movement. Previously, fish epithelial keratocytes have been shown to display transient increases in intracellular calcium ([Ca{sup 2+}]{sub i}) that are mediated by stretch-activated calcium channels (SACs), which play a role in retraction of the cell body [J. Lee, A. Ishihara, G. Oxford, B. Johnson, and K. Jacobson, Regulation of cell movement is mediated by stretch-activated calcium channels. Nature, 1999. 400(6742): p. 382-6.]. To investigate the involvement of SACs in Dictyostelium movement we performed high resolution calcium imaging in wild-type (NC4A2) Dictyostelium cells to detect changes in [Ca{sup 2+}]{sub i}. We observed small, brief, Ca{sup 2+} transients in randomly moving wild-type cells that were dependent on both intracellular and extracellular sources of calcium. Treatment of cells with the SAC blocker gadolinium (Gd{sup 3+}) inhibited transients and decreased cell speed, consistent with the involvement of SACs in regulating Dictyostelium motility. Additional support for SAC activity was given by the increase in frequency of Ca{sup 2+} transients when Dictyostelium cells were moving on a more adhesive substratum or when they were mechanically stretched. We conclude that mechano-chemical signaling via SACs plays a major role in maintaining the rapid movement of Dictyostelium cells.

• OSTI ID: 21128182
• Journal Information: Experimental Cell Research, Journal Name: Experimental Cell Research Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 314; ISSN 0014-4827; ISSN ECREAL
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
CALCIUM
CALCIUM IONS
GADOLINIUM
GADOLINIUM IONS
TRANSIENTS