Abstract
In this paper we address the following question: can a single cell of the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum serve as a pacemaker for the aggregation phase? Whether or not this is possible is determined by the relative importance of cyclic AMP production due to self-stimulation as compared to diffusion of cyclic AMP away from the cell and extracellular degradation. We determine the conditions under which a single cell on an infinite place can emit periodic signals of cyclic AMP using a model developed previously for signal relay and adaptation in Dictyostelium. Elsewhere it has been shown that this model provides an accurate representation of the stimulus-response behavior of Dictyostelium for a variety of experimental conditions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alcantara, F., Monk, M.: Signal propagation during aggregation in the slime mold Dictyostelium discoidem. J. Gen. Microbiol. 85, 321–334 (1974)
Cohen, M. H., Drage, D. J., Robertson, A.: Intophoresis of cyclic AMP. Biophys. J. 15, 753–763 (1975)
Devreotes, P. N., Derstine, P. L., Steck, T. L.: Cyclic 3′, 5′ AMP relay in Dictyostelium discoideum I. A technique to monitor responses to controlled stimuli. J. Cell Biol. 80, 291–299 (1979)
Devreotes, P. N., Steck, T. L.: Cyclic 3′,5′ AMP relay in Dictyostelium discoideum II. Requirements for the initiation and termination of the response. J. Cell Biol. 80, 300–309 (1979)
Dinauer, M. C., MacKay, S. A., Devreotes, P. N.: Cyclic 3′,5′ AMP relay in Dictyostelium discoideum III. The relationship of cAMP synthesis and secretion during the cAMP signaling response. J. Cell. Biol. 86, 537–544 (1980)
Dinauer, M. C., Steck, T. L., Devreotes, P. N.: Cyclic 3′5′ AMP relay in Dictyostelium discoideum IV. Recovery of the cAMP signaling response after adaptation to cAMP. J. Cell. Biol. 86, 545–553 (1980)
Dinauer, M. C., Steck, T. L., Devreotes, P. N.: Cyclic 3′5′ AMP relay in Dictyostelium discoideum V. Adaptation of the cAMP signaling response during cAMP stimulation. J. Cell. Biol. 86, 554–561 (1980)
Doedel, E.: AUTO: Software for continuation and bifurcation problems in ordinary differential equations. Technical Report, California Institute of Technology (1986)
Pate Elwood, E. F., Othmer, D. and H. G.: mPDE dramatically affects cAMP levels near aggregating D. dictyostelium cells. Preprint (1985)
Gerisch, G., Wick, U.: Intracellular oscillations and release of cyclic AMP from Dictyostelium cells. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 65, 364–370 (1975)
Gingle, A. R.: Critical density for relaying in Dictyostelium discoideum and its relation to phosphodiesterase secretion into the extracellular medium. J. Cell Sci. 20, 1–20 (1976)
Monk, P. B., Othmer, H. G.: Cyclic AMP oscillations in suspensions of Dictyostelium discoideum. Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. (Lond.), to appear
Nanjundiah, V., Malchow, D.: A theoretical study of the effects of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterases during aggregation in Dictyostelium. J. Cell. Sci. 22, 49–58 (1976)
Othmer, H. G., Monk, P. B.: Concentration waves in aggregation fields of a cellular slime mold. In: Ricciardi, L. (ed.) Biomathematics and related computational problems. Dordrecht: Reidel, to appear
Othmer, H.G., Monk, P.B., Rapp, P.E.: A model for signal relay and adaptation in Dictyostelium discoideum. Part II. Analytical and numerical results. Math. Biosci. 77, 77–139 (1985)
Raman, R. K., Hashimoto, Y., Cohen, M. H., Robertson, A.: Differentiation for aggregation in the cellular slime molds: The emergence of autonomously signalling cells in Dictyostelium discoideum. J. Cell. Sci. 21, 243–259 (1976)
Rapp, P. E., Monk, P. B., Othmer, H. G.: A model for signal relay and adaptation in Dictyostelium discoideum. Part I. Biological processes and the model network. Math. Biosci. 77, 35–78 (1985)
Robertson, A., Drage, D. J.: Stimulation of late interphase Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae with an external cyclic AMP pulse. Biophys. J. 15, 765–775 (1975)
Tomchik, K. J., Devreotes, P. N.: Adenosine 3′-5′-monophosphate waves in Dictyostelium discoideum: a demonstration by isotope dilution-fluorography. Science 212, 443–446 (1981)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Research supported in part by NIH Grant # GM 29123
Research supported in part by grants from AFOSR and NSF
Research supported in part by NIH Grant # GM 29123
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
DeYoung, G., Monk, P.B. & Othmer, H.G. Pacemakers in aggregation fields of Dictyostelium discoideum: does a single cell suffice?. J. Math. Biology 26, 487–517 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00276057
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00276057