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Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Assessment of Dictyostelium discoideum Response to Acute Mechanical Stimulation
Published on: November 9, 2017
Oscillatory signaling and network responses during the development of Dictyostelium discoideum
Vanessa C McMains1, Xin-Hua Liao, Alan R Kimmel
1Laboratory of Cellular and Developmental Biology, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-8028, USA.
Abstract:
Periodic biological variations reflect interactions among molecules and cells, or even organisms. The Dictyostelium cAMP oscillatory circuit is a highly robust example. cAMP oscillations in Dictyostelium arise intracellularly by a complex interplay of activating and inhibiting pathways, are transmitted extracellularly, and synchronize an entire local population. Once established, cAMP signal-relay persists stably for hours. On a two-dimensional surface, >100,000 cells may form a single coordinated territory. In suspension culture, >10(10) cells can oscillate in harmony. This review focuses on molecular mechanisms that cyclically activate and attenuate signal propagation and on chemotactic responses to oscillatory wave progression.
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