Multinucleation of the sodC-Deficient Dictyostelium discoideum

Abstract

The cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum expresses three genes (sodA, sodB and sodC) encoding the extracellular Cu/Zn superoxide dismutases. Following H₂O₂ treatment, the expression of sodA and sodB increased while that of sodC decreased. The sodC null strain formed multinucleate cells in a shaking culture. These results suggest that sodC plays a unique role in Dictyostelium discoideum.