Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Cell polarity and Dictyostelium development.

Hazel P Williams1, Adrian J Harwood

  • 1MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology & Dept of Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.

Current Opinion in Microbiology
|December 10, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Cell polarity guides Dictyostelium development, enabling directed movement via cytoskeleton reorganization. This process involves balancing actin polymerization and pseudopod suppression, crucial for cell communication and differentiation.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Effects of acute fluctuations of extracellular Zinc on network activity of human iPSC-derived neurons; impact of NMDA Receptor and L-Type Calcium Channel Activation.

Neuropharmacology·2026
Same author

Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived microglia with 1q21.1 deletion and duplication exhibit aberrant inflammatory response.

Genes & diseases·2026
Same author

Loss of tuberous sclerosis complex 2 confers inflammation via dysregulation of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells.

Journal of inflammation (London, England)·2025
Same author

MINDDS-connect: a federated data platform integrating biobanks for meta cohort building and analysis.

European journal of human genetics : EJHG·2025
Same author

Recommendations, guidelines, and best practice for the use of human induced pluripotent stem cells for neuropharmacological studies of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Neuroscience applied·2025
Same author

Loss of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 confers inflammation via dysregulation of Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells.

Research square·2024

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Cell polarity is fundamental for both single-celled and multicellular life stages in Dictyostelium.
  • Chemotaxis, or directed movement towards a chemical signal like cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), is vital during early development.
  • This directed movement necessitates rapid cytoskeletal reorganization within each cell.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms governing cell polarity during Dictyostelium development.
  • To understand the interplay of signaling molecules and proteins in cytoskeletal dynamics and cell movement.
  • To explore the transition to alternative movement and interaction modes in later developmental stages.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated the role of phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5) trisphosphate and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in cell polarity.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analyzed the involvement of conserved and novel proteins in cytoskeletal regulation.
  • Observed cell behavior and secretion patterns during different developmental phases.

    • Main Results:

    • Demonstrated that cell polarity is critical for Dictyostelium development, influencing chemotaxis and secretion.
    • Identified the balance between F-actin polymerization and pseudopod suppression as key to directed cell movement.
    • Highlighted the roles of specific lipids and signaling molecules in orchestrating these cellular responses.

    Conclusions:

    • Cell polarity is a tightly regulated process essential for Dictyostelium development.
    • The study provides insights into the molecular basis of directed cell movement and intercellular communication.
    • Understanding these mechanisms can inform broader principles of cell organization and differentiation.