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Development 128, 4535-4543 (2001)
© 2001 The Company of Biologists Limited

Propagating chemoattractant waves coordinate periodic cell movement in Dictyostelium slugs

Dirk Dormann and Cornelis J. Weijer*

School of Life Sciences, Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, Wellcome Trust Biocentre, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK

*Author for correspondence (e-mail: c.j.weijer{at}dundee.ac.uk)

Accepted August 14, 2001

Migration and behaviour of Dictyostelium slugs results from coordinated movement of its constituent cells. It has been proposed that cell movement is controlled by propagating waves of cAMP as during aggregation and in the mound. We report the existence of optical density waves in slugs; they are initiated in the tip and propagate backwards. The waves reflect periodic cell movement and are mediated by cAMP, as injection of cAMP or cAMP phosphodiesterase disrupts wave propagation and results in effects on cell movement and, therefore, slug migration. Inhibiting the function of the cAMP receptor cAR1 blocks wave propagation, showing that the signal is mediated by cAR1. Wave initiation is strictly dependent on the tip; in decapitated slugs no new waves are initiated and slug movement stops until a new tip regenerates. Isolated tips continue to migrate while producing waves. We conclude from these observations that the tip acts as a pacemaker for cAMP waves that coordinate cell movement in slugs.Movies available on-line

Key words: cAMP signalling, Wave propagation, Chemotaxis, Cell movement, Morphogenesis, Dictyostelium






© The Company of Biologists Ltd 2001