Multiple forms of acid phosphatase and their differential secretion during stalk formation under submerged monolayer incubation of Dictyostelium discoideum.

The electrophoretic pattern of intracellular and secreted acid phosphatases (AcPases) in Dictyostelium discoideum was examined during incubation of the cells as a submerged monolayer. Three distinct forms of the enzyme were observed in the cell during differentiation; one was detected throughout development (AcPase 1), whereas the others including AcPase 2 were stage-specific. AcPase 1 was released in the medium predominantly in early development and AcPase 2, a prestalk specific form, was secreted during stalk formation. When cells were incubated under conditions where stalk cells did not form, only AcPase 1 was recognized both in the cell and in the medium.