Current Applications in Research
Several D. discoideum genes are homologous to human genes making them a useful model organism. The entire genome was sequenced in a model organism database called dictyBase. Using these sequences scientists are now able to run more complex experiments especially on human-diseases. These slime molds are used to test anti-cancer drugs, immune-cell diseases, and bacterial intracellular pathogenesis. Also, recently it was established that Dictyostelium use DNA methylation for regulating gene expression.
Individual cell behavior accounts for many phases of health and disease. This is portrayed in D. discoideum in many different ways. Cytokinesis acts as part of immune response, tissue maintenance, and cancer, in the form of cell proliferation. Chemotaxis deals with inflammation, arthritis, asthma, lymphocyte trafficking, and axon guidance. Phagocytosis is used in immune surveillance and antigen presentation, while cell-type determination, cell sorting, and pattern formation are basic features of embryogenesis.
Legionella is a genus of bacteria that includes species that can cause Legionnaire's disease in humans. D. discoideum is also a host for Legionella and is a suitable model for studying the infection process. Specifically, D. discoideum shares with mammalian host cells a similar cytoskeleton and cellular processes relevant to Legionella infection, including phagocytosis, membrane trafficking, endocytosis, vesicle sorting, and chemotaxis.
Much research has been done to better understand the behavioral responses of D. discoideum specifically, the slug form that has an array of behavioral traits. Although it lacks sensory cells and organs it has a keen response to external stimuli, such as temperature and light. Over 100,000 individual amoebae are attracted to one another through chemotaxis. However, light is directly related to the cAMP cell-cell signaling in chemotaxis. Within the D. discoideum the light causes cAMP to be released from the slug tip thus speeding up and directionalizing movement toward the light source. D. discoideum also prefers a slightly acidic pH. When intracellular pH is increased, it results in increased locomotion during chemotaxis. The movement of the slug is also increased because the movement of each individual cell has increased.
Read more about this topic: Dictyostelium Discoideum
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