Cloning and expression of a cDNA that comprises part of the gene coding for a spore coat protein of Dictyostelium discoideum.

The three major spore coat proteins of Dictyostelium discoideum are developmentally regulated, cell-type-specific proteins. They are packaged in prespore vesicles and then secreted to form the outer layer of spore coats. We have isolated a cDNA clone from the gene coding for one of these proteins, SP96, a glycoprotein of 96,000 daltons. We screened the cDNA bank by the method of hybrid select translation followed by immunoprecipitation of the translation products with SP96-specific polyclonal antiserum. We found that the gene was first transcribed into stable mRNA a few hours before the time of detection of SP96 synthesis and that the mRNA, like the protein, accumulated specifically in prespore cells and spores. SP96 constituted the same proportion of newly synthesized protein as the proportion of its message in polyadenylated RNA. SP96 appeared to be encoded by a single gene as judged by Southern blot analysis of digested genomic DNA hybridized to the cDNA clone.