• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2018

Calcium ions are involved in the regulation of diverse cellular processes. Fourteen genes encoding calcium binding proteins have been identified in Dictyostelium. CBP7, one of the 14 CBPs, is composed of 169 amino acids and contains four EF-hand motifs. Here, we investigated the roles of CBP7 in the development and cell migration of Dictyostelium cells and found that high levels of CBP7 exerted a negative effect on cells aggregation during development, possibly by inhibiting chemoattractant-directed cell migration. While cells lacking CBP7 exhibited normal development and chemotaxis similar that of wild-type cells, CBP7 overexpressing cells completely lost their chemotactic abilities to move toward increasing cAMP concentrations. This resulted in inhibition of cellular aggregation, a process required for forming multicellular organisms during development. Low levels of cytosolic free calcium were observed in CBP7 overexpressing cells, which was likely the underlying cause of their lack of chemotaxis. Our results demonstrate that CBP7 plays an important role in cell spreading and cell-substrate adhesion. cbp7 null cells showed decreased cell size and cell-substrate adhesion. The present study contributes to further understanding the role of calcium signaling in regulation of cell migration and development.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.43-43
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• 2001

In cells of the eukaryotic microorganism Dictyostelium discoideum, at least eight small, four-EF hand calcium-binding proteins respectively are expressed at specific stages during development. One of these proteins, calcium-binding protein 3 (CBP3), first appears just prior to cell aggregation and then maintains relatively constant levels throughout development.(omitted)

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2024

Calcium ions play an important role in development and intracellular signaling. Dictyostelium discoideum has 14 genes encoding calcium -binding proteins (CBPs), but the function of most CBPs during development has not yet been studied. In this study, we investigated the specific functions of CBP7, one of 14 CBPs, in development using RNA interference cell lines of CBP7, cell lines overexpressing CBP7, cell lines with point mutations in the EF-hand domain, and cell lines expressing fragment proteins. was intended to reveal. CBP7 consists of 169 amino acids and contains 4EF-hand domains. The CBP7-overexpressing cells showed complete loss of developmental process. These cells remained in the single-cell growth stage under development -inducing conditions, while wild-type cells formed aggregations within 6-8h of development and eventually formed fruiting bodies. The experiments using point-mutated CBP7 protein showed that all EF-hand domains of CBP7 were important for CBP7 to function during developmental process. These results suggest that CBP7 plays an important role in developmental processes across all EF-hand domains.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.232.2-233
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• 2000

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.233.2-234
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• 2000

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.44 no.4 s.140
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• pp.331-341
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• 2006

Actin binding proteins play key roles in cell structure and movement particularly as regulators of the assembly, stability and localization of actin filaments in the cytoplasm. In the present study, a cDNA clone encoding an actin bundling protein named as AhABP was isolated from Acanthamoeba healyi, a causative agent of granulomatous amebic encephalitis. This clone exhibited high similarity with genes of Physarum polycephalum and Dictyostelium discoideum, which encode actin bundling proteins. Domain search analysis revealed the presence of essential conserved regions, i.e., an active actin binding site and 2 putative calcium binding EF-hands. Transfected amoeba cells demonstrated that AhABP is primarily localized in phagocytic cups, peripheral edges, pseudopods, and in cortical cytoplasm where actins are most abundant. Moreover, AhABP after the deletion of essential regions formed ellipsoidal inclusions within transfected cells. High-speed co-sedimentation assays revealed that AhABP directly interacted with actin in the presence of up to $10{\mu}M$ of calcium. Under the electron microscope, thick parallel bundles were formed by full length AhABP, in contrast to the thin actin bundles formed by constructs with deletion sites. In the light of these results, we conclude that AhABP is a novel actin bundling protein that is importantly associated with actin filaments in the cytoplasm.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.59-65
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• 2024

Dendritic cells play a very important role in the immune response as antigen-presenting cells that are critical for initiating both innate and acquired immunity. They recognize, process and present foreign antigens to other key immune cells to trigger and regulate the immune response. The ability to activate these dendritic cells can be used as a treatment for various immune diseases. Maqui berry has been reported to have anticancer, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. However, its effect on the activity of dendritic cells has not been studied. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of maqui berry extract in modulating dendritic cell activity. Treatment of dendritic cells with maqui berry extract induced the costimulatory molecules CD80, CD86, and MHC class I and II in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, the antigen-presenting capacity of dendritic cells was inhibited, which confirms their ability to present antigens, and the production of Interleukin (IL)-12, which is important for dendritic cell activity, was increased. These results indicated that Maqui berry extract activates dendritic cells maturation by inducing the production of co-stimulatory molecules and IL-12. These results suggest that maqui berry extract may act as an effective adjuvant to enhance dendritic cell-based immune responses.