Structurally distinct and stage-specific adenylyl cyclase genes play different roles in Dictyostelium development

Cell. 1992 Apr 17;69(2):305-15. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(92)90411-5.

Abstract

We have isolated two adenylyl cyclase genes, designated ACA and ACG, from Dictyostelium. The proposed structure for ACA resembles that proposed for mammalian adenylyl cyclases: two large hydrophilic domains and two sets of six transmembrane spans. ACG has a novel structure, reminiscent of the membrane-bound guanylyl cyclases. An aca- mutant, created by gene disruption, has little detectable adenylyl cyclase activity and fails to aggregate, demonstrating that cAMP is required for cell-cell communication. cAMP is not required for motility, chemotaxis, growth, and cell division, which are unaffected. Constitutive expression in aca- cells of either ACA or ACG, which is normally expressed only during germination, restores aggregation and the ability to complete the developmental program. ACA expression restores receptor and guanine nucleotide-regulated adenylyl cyclase activity, while activity in cells expressing ACG is insensitive to these regulators. Although they lack ACA, which has a transporter-like structure, the cells expressing ACG secrete cAMP constitutively.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adenylyl Cyclases / analysis
  • Adenylyl Cyclases / genetics*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Aggregation / genetics
  • Cell Communication / genetics
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • Dictyostelium / genetics*
  • Gene Expression / genetics
  • Guanylate Cyclase / analysis
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Morphogenesis
  • Sequence Alignment

Substances

  • Cyclic AMP
  • Adenylyl Cyclases
  • Guanylate Cyclase

Associated data

  • GENBANK/L05496
  • GENBANK/L05497
  • GENBANK/L05498
  • GENBANK/L05499
  • GENBANK/M87278
  • GENBANK/M87279
  • GENBANK/S72766
  • GENBANK/S72767
  • GENBANK/S72768
  • GENBANK/S72769
  • GENBANK/S72771