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Intercellular adhesion in the cellular slime mold Polysphondylium pallidum
Giornale Di Batteriologia, Virologia Ed Immunologia
|January 1, 1982
Summary
Cellular slime mold P. pallidum adhesion involves a dimerizing glycoprotein and a developmentally regulated component. These factors mediate species-specific intercellular adhesion, crucial for slime mold development.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Intercellular adhesion is fundamental for multicellular organism development.
- Cellular slime molds, like P. pallidum, exhibit complex adhesion behaviors during their life cycle.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize the molecular components responsible for intercellular adhesion in P. pallidum.
- To investigate the role of these components in regulating species-specific adhesion.
Main Methods:
- Immunological approaches using monoclonal antibodies for purification and localization of adhesion molecules.
- Extraction and characterization of plasma membrane factors affecting cell adhesion.
- Cell sorting experiments to assess species-specific adhesion.
Main Results:
- A dimerizing glycoprotein was identified as a major cell adhesion mediator, present on the cell surface.
- A second, developmentally regulated adhesion component was partially purified.
- Species-specific adhesion was demonstrated to be mediated by the developmentally regulated contact sites.
Conclusions:
- P. pallidum utilizes distinct adhesion factors, including a major glycoprotein and a developmentally regulated component.
- The developmentally regulated contact sites are key regulators of species-specific intercellular adhesion in P. pallidum.