Regulation of DdrasG gene expression during Dictyostelium development

DdrasG gene expression during the early development of Dictyostelium discoideum has been examined in detail. The amount of DdrasG-specific mRNA increased approximately twofold during the first 2 to 3 h of development and then declined rapidly, reaching negligible levels by the aggregation stage. The increase in mRNA levels that occurred during the first 2 to 3 h of development also occurred during differentiation in cell suspensions and was enhanced when cells were shaken rapidly. This initial increase was unaffected by cell density. When cells were set up to differentiate on filters, the addition of a glucose-amino acid mixture slightly delayed differentiation and had a similar effect on the expression of the gene. The decline in DdrasG expression during development did not occur when cells were treated with cycloheximide, suggesting that the expression of a developmentally regulated gene product is essential for the reduction of DdrasG gene mRNA. There was no decrease in DdrasG mRNA level during differentiation in shake suspension, but the decrease did occur upon application of pulses of cyclic AMP to shaking cultures. The application of a continuously high level of cyclic AMP delayed the increase in expression of the gene and did not result in the subsequent decline. These results suggest that the induction of a functional cyclic AMP relay system is important in reducing DdrasG gene mRNA levels.