Targeted disruption of the ABP-120 gene leads to cells with altered motility

Authors :: Cox, D.
Condeelis, J.
Wessels, D.
Soll, D.
Kern, H.
Knecht, D.A.
Source :: The Journal of Cell Biology. Feb, 1992, Vol. 116 Issue 3-4, p943, 13 p.
Publication Year :: 1992
Abstract: Transformation vectors for targeted disruption of the ABP-120 gene locus wereused to generate Dictyostelium ameba mutants that do not express the actin-binding protein ABP-120. This was done to determine whether ABP-120 has arole in cross-linking F-actin filaments during pseudopod formation in the ameba. It was observed that mutant cells were rounder before and after stimulation with cyclic adenylic acid (cAMP). Furthermore, they exhibited abnormal rate and extent of pseudopod extension which correlated with reduced F-actin cross-linking into the cytoskeleton upon cAMP stimulation.