Two Functionally Distinctive Phosphopantetheinyl Transferases from Amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum
2011

Two Distinct Phosphopantetheinyl Transferases in Dictyostelium discoideum

publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Nair Divya R., Ghosh Ratna, Manocha Alzu, Mohanty Debasisa, Saran Shweta, Gokhale Rajesh S.

Primary Institution: National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India

Hypothesis

The study investigates the functional roles of two phosphopantetheinyl transferases in the life cycle of Dictyostelium discoideum.

Conclusion

Both phosphopantetheinyl transferases play crucial and distinct roles in the biology of Dictyostelium discoideum.

Supporting Evidence

  • The two phosphopantetheinyl transferases, DiAcpS and DiSfp, were found to have distinct functional specificities.
  • Disruption of either gene resulted in non-viable amoebae, indicating their essential roles.
  • Both PPTases were expressed during all stages of the Dictyostelium life cycle.

Takeaway

The study found that two enzymes in a tiny amoeba help it grow and develop, each doing a different job.

Methodology

The researchers used genetic knockout and biochemical assays to study the roles of the two phosphopantetheinyl transferases.

Limitations

The study's genetic tools for making conditional mutants or RNAi studies in Dictyostelium are not robust.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0024262

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