ISOLATION OF A DICTYOSTELIUM-DISCOIDEUM 14-3-3-HOMOLOG

A 1.0 kb cDNA clone (Dd14-3-3) encoding a 14-3-3 homologue was isolate d from a Dictyostelium discoideum cDNA library. The putative Dd14-3-3 protein has highest sequence identity to a barley 14-3-3 isoform (74%) . Southern blot analysis suggests that only one 14-3-3 gene is present in the Dictyostelium genome. Highest Dd14-3-3 expression is observed in vegetatively growing cells, and expression decreases during multice llular development. In contrast, Dd14-3-3 protein levels detected immu nochemically remained constant during Dictyostelium development. Expre ssion of the Dd14-3-3 cDNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae complemented th e lethal disruption of the two yeast genes encoding 14-3-3 proteins (B MH1 and BMH2). This shows that Dd14-3-3 can fulfil the same function(s ) as the yeast 14-3-3 proteins.