2018 Volume 58 Issue 5 Pages 237-240
Various types of cells display chemotaxis in a wide-range of attractant concentration gradient. However, mechanisms underlying the wide-range sensing are not fully understood. We have identified a novel regulator of heterotrimeric G proteins, G protein interacting protein 1 (Gip1), that extends a dynamic range of Dictyostelium chemotaxis. Our studies revealed that the Gip1-dependent spatial regulation of G protein contributed to the dynamic range extension. This differs from commonly known mechanisms including adaptation associated with the chemical modification of receptor. Higher eukaryotic cells, such as neutrophils, may adopt similar mechanism using Gip1 homologs.
