Analysis of Approaches Used in Studying Differentiation of the Cellular Slime Mold

Abstract

Two approaches currently utilized in studying intracellular regulation of differentiation in D. discoideum have been analyzed. One tends to implicate transcription and translation as the most critical types of control during differentiation. The other approach assumes a priori that no single cellular event or component has inherent causal significance, but rather attempts to assess various factors limiting the rate of differentiation through a kinetic analysis of the relationships between enzymes, metabolites, and in vivo reaction rates. We have attempted to justify our prejudice for the latter approach, and have presented a kinetic analysis of the metabolism involved in the synthesis of carbohydrate end products. In addition, data pertaining to the control of energy metabolism are discussed in considering directions for expansion of the kinetic model.