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Motile activities of Dictyostelium discoideum differ from those in Protista or vertebrate animal cells

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Waligorska A., Wianecka-Skoczen M., Korohoda W.

Folia Biologica

2007

vol. 55

issue 3-4

87-93

Cell movement in the amoebae Dictyostelium discoideum has been examined in media differing in monovalent cation concentration (i.e. Na+ and K+). Under isotonic or even slightly hypertonic conditions, the cells move equally well in solutions in which either potassium or sodium ions dominate. However, in strongly hypertonic solutions the amoebae showed motility in a 2% potassium chloride solution, but remained motionless in a hypertonic 2% sodium chloride solution. This inhibition of D. discoideum amoebae movement in a hypertonic sodium chloride solution was fully reversible. Such behaviour corresponds to that of plant, fungi, and some invertebrate animal cells rather than protozoan or vertebrate cells. These observations suggest that studies using D. discoideum as a model for cell motility in vertebrate animal tissue cells should be considered with caution, and would seem to confirm the classification of cellular slime moulds as related rather to Fungi than to Protista. This also shows that the cell membrane models should consider the asymmetry in sodium /potassium ion concentrations found in vertebrate animal cells as one of various possibilities.

Some difficulties in research into cell motile activity under isotropic conditions

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Waligorska A., Wianecka-Skoczen M., Nowak P., Korohoda W.

Folia Biologica

2007

vol. 55

issue 1-2

9-16

Movement of Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae under isotropic and anisotropic conditions was recorded and analysed with computer-aided methods and the results are presented in various manners as described in the subject literature. Cell movement under isotropic conditions showed great diversity. Some cells moved almost in a straight path whereas others in close proximity turned around with little net translocation. When cell movement under isotropic conditions was observed, no direct correlation was found between the total length of cell trajectories and the length of final displacements of the cells. It was necessary to present the results in the form of histograms, circular diagrams of cell trajectories or in scatter correlation diagrams showing the motile behaviour of many individual cells. These methods of presentation are more informative than methods which present only average values, the 'representative' behaviour of single cells, or start and end points of cell tracks. The latter methods can only illustrate but do not document the results of experiments. The use of statistical methods appears necessary in cases when it is difficult to monitor the same cells before and during experimental treatment. However, when cell movement under anisotropic conditions becomes oriented and ordered as during tactic cell movements, then the diversity in cell behaviour decreases and methods based on estimation of starting and end points of cell positions appear more credible.

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2 Folia Biologica

2 2007

2 Korohoda W.

2 Waligorska A.

2 Wianecka-Skoczen M.

1 Nowak P.

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Motile activities of Dictyostelium discoideum differ from those in Protista or vertebrate animal cells

Some difficulties in research into cell motile activity under isotropic conditions