Regulation of Prestalk‐specific Acid Phosphatase in Dictyostelium discoideum

• Published in: Development, growth & differentiation Vol. 28; no. 5; pp. 471 - 482
• Main Authors: TASAKA, MASAO, KAY, CAROLYN A., SOMMERVILLE, SHARON M., GRANT, AROLINE E., TSANG, ADRIAN S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.1986; Japanese Society of Developmental Biologists
• Subjects: acid phosphatase; Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Dictyostelium discoideum; Enzymes and enzyme inhibitors; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hydrolases; Dictyostelium discoideum; Protozoa; Regulation(control); Enzyme; Monoclonal antibody; Differentiation; Acid phosphatase; Mycetozoa
• ISSN: 0012-1592; 1440-169X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-169X.1986.00471.x

Acid phosphatase–2, as characterized by gel electrophoresis under non‐denaturing conditions, is a convenient marker for prestalk cells in Dictyostelium discoideum. We have purified this prestalk‐specific enzyme and have examined its regulation during development. Under denaturing conditions, the enzyme has a molecular weight of 50,000 and an isoelectric point of 4.0. On the other hand, acid phosphatase‐I have a Mr‐55,000 polypeptide (AP1–55) and a minor Mr‐50,000 polypeptide (AP1–50) and both have diffuse isoelectric point from 3.4 to 4.1. Using monoclonal antibodies directed against acid phosphatase‐2 as probes, we showed that some acid phosphatase‐2 are newly synthesized at slug stage and some are converted from AP1–50 which was synthesized during ealy development.