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Updated: Feb 25, 2026
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High-throughput Measurement of Dictyostelium discoideum Macropinocytosis by Flow Cytometry
Published on: September 10, 2018
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Fat-containing cells are eliminated during Dictyostelium development
Jessica M Kornke1, Markus Maniak2
1Abteilung Zellbiologie, Universität Kassel, D-34109 Kassel, Germany.
Biology Open
|July 29, 2017
Summary
Dictyostelium amoebae accumulating excess fat struggle with development. Disrupting fat metabolism genes improves spore formation but impairs fat storage, highlighting fat
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Triacylglycerol serves as a universal energy storage molecule in organisms.
- Dictyostelium amoebae accumulating excess storage fat exhibit impaired development into spores.
- Fatty acid metabolism is crucial for Dictyostelium development and spore formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of fat metabolism genes in Dictyostelium development and spore formation.
- To understand the function of Dictyostelium seipin (seiP) in lipid droplet dynamics and development.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of gene-deficient Dictyostelium mutants (fcsA, dgat1, dgat2, seiP).
- Assessment of fat accumulation and lipid droplet morphology in wild-type and mutant strains.
- Evaluation of developmental progression and spore contribution in response to fatty acid exposure.
Main Results:
- Mutants deficient in fat synthesis (fcsA, dgat1, dgat2) showed increased spore contribution but reduced fat storage.
- Dictyostelium seipin (seiP) knockout mutants displayed enlarged, fewer lipid droplets without quantitative changes in fat storage.
- seiP mutants remained vulnerable to fatty acid exposure and showed inefficient entry into the spore head.
Conclusions:
- Efficient fat metabolism is essential for Dictyostelium spore development.
- Disrupting specific fat metabolism genes can enhance spore formation at the cost of fat storage capacity.
- Dictyostelium seipin influences lipid droplet size and number, impacting developmental progression.
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