Analysis of specific mRNA destabilization during Dictyostelium development.

A number of specific mRNAs are destabilized upon disaggregation of developing Dictyostelium discoideum cells. Analysis of a family of cloned genes indicates that only prespore-enriched mRNAs are affected; constitutive mRNAs that are expressed throughout development and mRNAs that accumulate preferentially in prestalk cells are stable under these conditions. The decay of sensitive prespore mRNAs can be halted by allowing the cells to reaggregate, indicating that destabilization occurs by the progressive selection of individual molecules rather than on all members of an mRNA subpopulation at the time of disaggregation. Individual molecules of the sensitive mRNA species remain engaged in protein synthesis in the disaggregated cells until selected. Destabilization of sensitive mRNAs is induced by cell dissociation even in the presence of concentrations of nogalamycin that inhibit RNA synthesis. The reported prevention of disaggregation-induced mRNA decay by actinomycin D and daunomycin is therefore probably a secondary effect unrelated to the inhibition of transcription.