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Assaying Cell-Cell Adhesion

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Dictyostelium discoideum Protocols

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology™ ((MIMB,volume 346))

Abstract

A major feature in Dictyostelium development is the transition from the unicellular to the multicellular stage, a process brought about by chemotaxis and cell-cell adhesion. Growth-phase cells are weakly cohesive, whereas aggregation-competent cells adhere strongly to each other. In addition, aggregating cells display an ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA)-resistant form of adhesion, which is developmentally regulated. Measuring cell-cell adhesion can thus be a simple and convenient method by which to assess the developmental progression of cells, to characterize mutants, and to discriminate between development and functional defects in cell adhesion molecules or membrane-cytoskeletal interactions. A quantitative cell adhesion assay is obviously crucial for identifying novel cell adhesion factors.

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© 2006 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Bozzaro, S. (2006). Assaying Cell-Cell Adhesion. In: Eichinger, L., Rivero, F. (eds) Dictyostelium discoideum Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 346. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59745-144-4:449

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59745-144-4:449

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-623-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-144-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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