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Migration in Dictyostelium polycephalum

J T Bonner1

  • 1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA. jtbonner@princeton.edu

Mycologia
|August 10, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Cellular slime molds offer insights into cell movement. Dictyostelium polycephalum slugs move faster and farther than Dictyostelium discoideum, with speed proportional to slug length, suggesting a novel movement mechanism.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Cellular slime molds exhibit complex social behaviors, including collective cell migration.
  • Dictyostelium discoideum is a model organism for studying cell motility, but other species present unique migration strategies.
  • Understanding the mechanisms of slug movement is crucial for deciphering collective cell behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the differences in migration strategies between Dictyostelium polycephalum and Dictyostelium discoideum.
  • To elucidate the underlying mechanisms driving slug movement in cellular slime molds.
  • To test the hypothesis that slug speed is proportional to its length.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of two cellular slime mold species: Dictyostelium discoideum and Dictyostelium polycephalum.
  • Observation and measurement of slug migration distances and speeds in soil and agar environments.
  • Examination of the internal structure of migrating slugs, focusing on cell organization and differentiation.
  • Analysis of the movement of severed slug sections to correlate speed with length.

Main Results:

  • Dictyostelium polycephalum slugs demonstrate enhanced migratory capabilities, traveling greater distances through soil and agar compared to Dictyostelium discoideum.
  • Dictyostelium polycephalum slugs lack distinct prestalk and prespore zones, unlike Dictyostelium discoideum.
  • Severed sections of Dictyostelium polycephalum slugs exhibit movement speed directly proportional to their length.
  • This observation supports the hypothesis that the aligned amoebae within the slime sheath contribute to forward propulsion, with longer alignments resulting in faster movement.

Conclusions:

  • Dictyostelium polycephalum possesses a unique and efficient mechanism for slug migration, distinct from Dictyostelium discoideum.
  • The proportionality of movement speed to length in Dictyostelium polycephalum suggests a 'pushing' mechanism driven by the collective action of aligned cells.
  • This finding provides novel insights into the biophysics of collective cell migration and the evolution of social behavior in cellular slime molds.

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