ISSN:
0886-1544
Keywords:
amoeboid motion
;
chemoattractants
;
chemotaxis
;
Dictyostelium
;
filopodia
;
folic acid
;
pterins
;
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Living vegetative D. discoideum amoebae were studied to determine whether their filopodia respond to folic acid, a chemoattractant for these cells. Exponentially growing amoebae (ca. 10 μm diameter) exhibit 5-30 μm long filopodia; at stationary phase, aggregation competent amoebae have numerous multibranched filopodia up to 100 μm long. Folic acid was observed to stimulate production, elongation, and branching of filopodia with its effects progressively changing as the amoebae approach aggregation. Filopodial construction was also found to be dependent upon Mg2+ levels. The significance of these results is discussed with respect to progressive changes within the vegetative phase as well as to the mechanisms of amoeboid movement, pseudopodial activity, and chemotaxis.
Additional Material:
2 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cm.970040206
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