Isozymes of β-Glucosidase in Dictyostelium discoideum

Abstract

The activity of β-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21) in extracts of Dictyostelium discoideum was investigated. The specific activity increased early in development, declined during pseudoplasmodium formation, and increased again during sorocarp formation. The β-glucosidase which was present in growing amoebae and during the first stages of multicellular development was electrophoretically distinct from the enzyme which accumulated during the final stages of morphogenesis. Ribonucleic acid synthesis and protein synthesis during development were required for the accumulation of the later isozyme. Analysis of β-glucosidase activity in a number of morphological mutants suggests that the enzyme which accumulates late in morphogenesis is developmentally controlled.