The Evolution of Aggregative Multicellularity and Cell–Cell Communication in the Dictyostelia

• Published in: Journal of molecular biology Vol. 427; no. 23; pp. 3722 - 3733
• Main Authors: Du, Qingyou, Kawabe, Yoshinori, Schilde, Christina, Chen, Zhi-hui, Schaap, Pauline
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 20.11.2015; Elsevier
• Subjects: ancestry; Biological Evolution; cell differentiation; cell movement; cyclic AMP; Cyclic AMP - genetics; Cyclic AMP - metabolism; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases - metabolism; Cyclic GMP - analogs & derivatives; Cyclic GMP - metabolism; cyclic nucleotide; Dictyostelium - metabolism; Dictyostelium - physiology; Dictyostelium discoideum; dual component signalling; encystation; encystment; eukaryotic cells; evolution; evolution of multicellularity; fruiting bodies; genes; Genome, Protozoan; genomics; Genomics - methods; Hexanones - metabolism; Histidine Kinase; prokaryotic cells; Protein Kinases - metabolism; proteins; Protozoan Proteins - genetics; Protozoan Proteins - metabolism; Quorum Sensing; second messengers; Signal Transduction; sporulation; dual component signalling; cyclic nucleotide; evolution of multicellularity; encystation; sporulation

Aggregative multicellularity, resulting in formation of a spore-bearing fruiting body, evolved at least six times independently amongst both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Amongst eukaryotes, this form of multicellularity is mainly studied in the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum. In this review,...