Spatial restriction of cellular differentiation

Myxococcus xanthus cells differentiate into myxospores within a fruiting body, an aggregate of approximately 10(5) cells. Previous work had discerned an inner and outer domain within the fruiting body differentiated by cell density and cell alignment. To test whether the two domains might play different roles in spore differentiation, developmentally regulated gene fusions were screened for expression restricted to one domain or the other. Transcriptional lacZ fusions to 80 developmentally regulated genes were examined and eight fusions were found that restricted expression to the inner domain, while one fusion, omega 7621, showed initial expression in the outer domain. Initial omega 7621 expression coincided with patches of spore precursors evident in bright-field microscopy. Later in development, both omega 7621 expression and the patches expanded inward, eventually filling both the inner and outer domains. Previous work had also shown that high cell density and cell alignment are required for transmission of the C-signal, which is needed to initiate spore differentiation. Evidence is presented for a novel morphogenetic mechanism in which C-signaling in the outer (high density) domain initiates spore differentiation. It is proposed that spore precursors are passively transported from the outer to the inner domain by the movements of undifferentiated rod cells. Reconstruction experiments showed that developing rod cells move with sufficient force to displace spores. Spore precursors thus accumulate in the inner domain where they express spore-specific genes at high levels and account for inner domain specific expression.