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Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Assessment of Dictyostelium discoideum Response to Acute Mechanical Stimulation
Published on: November 9, 2017
Highlighting the role of Ras and Rap during Dictyostelium chemotaxis
Arjan Kortholt1, Peter J M van Haastert
1Department of Molecular Cell Biology, University of Groningen, Kerklaan 30, 9751NN Haren, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Chemotaxis, the directional movement towards a chemical compound, is an essential property of many cells and has been linked to the development and progression of many diseases. Eukaryotic chemotaxis is a complex process involving gradient sensing, cell polarity, remodelling of the cytoskeleton and signal relay. Recent studies in the model organism Dictyostelium discoideum have shown that chemotaxis does not depend on a single molecular mechanism, but rather depends on several interconnecting pathways. Surprisingly, small G-proteins appear to play essential roles in all these pathways. This review will summarize the role of small G-proteins in Dictyostelium, particularly highlighting the function of the Ras subfamily in chemotaxis.
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