Endocytosis and inositol hexakisphosphate levels in ras transformants of Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae.

Fluid-phase pinocytosis kinetics and lysosomal enzyme secretion parameters were measured in Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae constructed from strain AX3 by transformation with a multicopy plasmid carrying either a normal ras gene (ras-Gly12), a mutated ras gene (ras-Thr12) or by the vector carrying the geneticin resistance gene only (pDNEO2). It was found that the pinocytosis rate and extent as well as the lysosomal enzyme secretion were slightly different in the three strains. These changes, however, were related to minor modifications of the cellular volumes. The overall concentration of inositol hexakisphosphate was similar in the three strains.