Structure and function of beta-blucosidases in Dictyostelium discoideum

There are two isozymes of beta-glucosidase in developing cells of Dictyostelium discoideum. A procedure for screening large numbers of clones for beta-glucosidase activity was utilized to obtain mutations which directly affect the activity. We recovered seven strains which lack both isozymes and four strains with residual activity in which enzymatic and physical properties of both isozymes are altered. Beta-Glucosidase appears to act as a block to selfing in macrocyst formation as shown by the fact that ssite mating type to form macrocyst-like structures. Immunological evidence utilizing antisera prepared against purified beta-glucosidase-1 demonstrates that most of the glycosidases in Dictyostelium discoideum share a common antigenic determinant which appears to be added post-translationally. The two isozymes of beta-glucosidase share common protein subunits but the antigenic determinant is either lacking or masked in beta-glucosidase-2. This may account for some of the enzymatic and physical differences between the two isozymes.