A new spore differentiation factor (SDF) secreted by Dictyostelium cells is phosphorylated by the cAMP dependent protein kinase

Upon starvation, Dictyostelium discoideum unicellular amoebae form a multicellular organism leading to the development of a fruiting body containing spores. Single cells of sporogenous mutants, unlike wild type cells, are able to differentiate into spores under specific conditions. We show in this report that overexpression of the catalytic subunit of the cAMP dependent protein kinase (PKA), not only renders the cells sporogenous, but is also accompanied by the production/release of a diffusible spore differentiation factor (SDF). SDF is a small, thermostable phospho-polypeptide. In vitro dephosphorylation reduces SDF spore differentiation capacity, which can be regained in vitro by PKA phosphorylation. These results indicate that SDF is a PKA substrate and might be activated in vivo by this protein kinase. Since spore differentiation requires PKA catalytic subunit activation, we conclude that the response of prespore cells to SDF involves an intracellular pathway dependent on PKA.