Functional genomics in Dictyostelium: MidA, a new conserved protein, is required for mitochondrial function and development

Journal of Cell Science
Patricia TorijaRicardo Escalante

Abstract

Genomic sequencing has revealed a large number of evolutionary conserved genes of unknown function. In the absence of characterized functional domains, the discovery of the role of these genes must rely on experimental approaches. We have selected 30 Dictyostelium discoideum genes of unknown function that showed high similarity to uncharacterized human genes and were absent in the complete proteomes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and S. pombe. No putative functional motifs were found in their predicted encoded proteins. Eighteen genes were successfully knocked-out and three of them showed obvious phenotypes. A detailed analysis of one of them, midA, is presented in this report. Disruption of midA in Dictyostelium leads to pleiotropic defects. Cell size, growth rate, phagocytosis and macropinocytosis were affected in the mutant. During development, midA- cells showed an enhanced tendency to remain at the slug stage, and spore viability was compromised. The expression of MidA fused to GFP in midA- strain rescued the phenotype and the fused protein was located in the mitochondria. Although cellular oxygen consumption, mitochondrial content and mitochondrial membrane potential were similar to wild type, the amount of ATP was signifi...Continue Reading

References

Jan 1, 1978·Journal of Cellular Physiology·J B Wilson, C L Rutherford
Oct 15, 1977·Journal of Molecular Biology·J Schindler, M Sussman
Aug 1, 1976·Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics·C L Rutherford, J F Harris
Nov 1, 1993·Developmental Biology·G Shaulsky, W F Loomis
May 8, 1997·Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications·Z WilczynskaP R Fisher
Jun 6, 2000·Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews : MMBR·V Contamine, M Picard
Jan 5, 2002·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Vito G DelVecchioRoss Overbeek
Jul 20, 2002·Mechanisms of Development·Juliet C CoatesAdrian J Harwood
Feb 8, 2003·The Journal of Immunology : Official Journal of the American Association of Immunologists·Gianluca FossatiSteven W Edwards
Feb 22, 2003·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Siv G E AnderssonCharles G Kurland
Dec 19, 2003·Nucleic Acids Research·Reiko KikunoOsamu Ohara
Dec 20, 2003·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·Weicheng LiuJianxin Gu
Apr 9, 2004·The EMBO Journal·Masaaki KomatsuKeiji Tanaka
Jul 1, 2004·Journal of Cell Science·Junji ChidaYasuo Maeda
Sep 3, 2004·Development·Christina SchildeJeffrey G Williams
Sep 24, 2004·Cytometry. Part a : the Journal of the International Society for Analytical Cytology·W PendergrassM Poot
Mar 23, 2005·Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology·Yi ChangRuei-Ming Chen
Apr 30, 2005·Trends in Pharmacological Sciences·Willem H Mager, Joris Winderickx
May 6, 2005·Nature·L EichingerA Kuspa
Jun 25, 2005·Trends in Genetics : TIG·Jeffrey G WilliamsLudwig Eichinger
Jul 26, 2005·Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine·Lawrence H YoungRaymond R Russell

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Apr 24, 2009·Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry·Sarah J Annesley, Paul R Fisher
Mar 29, 2013·Molecular Biology of the Cell·Sergio Carilla-LatorreRicardo Escalante
Jun 26, 2014·Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes·Margarida Duarte, Ana M Tomás
Jul 27, 2011·Biochemical Pharmacology·Lisa M Francione, Paul R Fisher
Dec 7, 2010·European Journal of Cell Biology·Georgia VlahouFrancisco Rivero
Dec 7, 2010·Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology·Lisa M FrancionePaul R Fisher
Sep 20, 2011·Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta·Masakazu MimakiMichael T Ryan
Oct 29, 2013·Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta·S J AnnesleyP R Fisher
Apr 22, 2010·Journal of Cell Science·Sergio Carilla-LatorreRicardo Escalante
Aug 21, 2021·ELife·Olivier Cochet-EscartinJean-Paul Rieu

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.