Differentiation inducing factors in Dictyostelium discoideum: a novel low molecular factor functions at an early stage(s) of differentiation.

There are reports that secreted factor(s) are involved in prespore cell differentiation in Dictyostelium discoideum, but the structures and functions of the various factors have not been elucidated. Previously, we described two prespore cell-inducing factors in conditioned medium; one was a glycoprotein named prespore cell-inducing factor (psi factor, or PSI-1), and the other, a heat stable dialyzable factor(s). In the present paper, we purified and characterized the most potent prespore cell-inducing activity in dialysates. The factor began to be secreted after the onset of starvation and stopped being secreted once the cells had aggregated, which was earlier than the onset of the psi factor gene expression. In addition, unlike psi factor, its secretion did not appear to depend on activation of protein kinase A. Interestingly, the purified factor not only induced prespore cell specific genes such as pspA and cotC but also a prestalk-cell specific gene, ecmB in vitro. The purified factor is tentatively designated polyketide-like factor (PLF), because it seems to be a novel polyketide with 208 Da. Half maximal induction of prespore cell was obtained with 26 nmol/L of PLF. We propose that PLF plays a key role in the acquisition of differentiation commitment, before the psi factor induces specifically prespore cell differentiation.