Cell–cell heterogeneity in phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase biases early cell fate priming in Dictyostelium discoideum

• DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1526795
• Publication Date: 2025-02-04T06:33:51Z
• Authors: Kenichi Abe; Hidenori Hashimura; Haruka Hiraoka; Shoko Fujishiro; Narufumi Kameya; Kazuteru Taoka; Satoshi Kuwana; Masashi Fukuzawa; Satoshi Sawai
• Keywords: Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase; Cell fate determination

Glucose metabolism is a key factor characterizing the cellular state during multicellular development. In metazoans, metabolic of undifferentiated cells correlates with growth/differentiation transition and cell fate determination. Notably, Amoebozoa species Dictyostelium discoideum biased by presence glucose also correlated early differences in intracellular ATP. However, relationship between cell–cell heterogeneity, differentiation, unclear. To address link differentiation D. , we studied role phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), enzyme PEP-oxaloacetate-pyruvate node, core junction that dictates flux glycolysis, TCA cycle, gluconeogenesis. We demonstrate there heterogeneity PEPC promoter activity vegetative cells, which depends on nutrient conditions, high differentiate into spores. The null mutant exhibited an aberrantly prestalk/prespore ratio, spore mass fruiting body was glassy consisted immature Furthermore, had ATP levels low mitochondrial membrane potential. Our results suggest importance enzymes priming.