A molecular network underlying spontaneous cAMP oscillation and synchronization in Dictyostelium

We propose a molecular network, incorporating both adaptation and phosphorylation, to account for the spontaneous cAMP oscillation of Dictyostelium discoideum. We have modified the scheme previously proposed by Loomis and his collaborators so as to include adaptation by the cAMP receptor and such that extracellular cAMP is formed by the secreted intracellular cAMP instead of being directly produced by adenylyl cyclase. Furthermore, our scheme provides better robustness, and can be applied to spontaneous cAMP production by a cluster of cells.