Binding of Concanavalin A and its effect on the differentiation of Dictyostelium Discoideum

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Abstract
Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae have two classes of binding sites for concanavalin A, one accessible to a competitive inhibitor of concanavalin A binding and one inaccessible. Uptake of concanavalin A occurs and is associated with a transfer from accessible to inaccessible binding sites. Low amounts of concanavalin A bound to cells produce a slight stimulation of differentiation, and this is associated with an increase in production of phosphodiesterase. Above a critical amount of concanavalin A bound, cell differentiation and phosphodiesterase production are inhibited. The relationship of concanavalin A-induced membrane changes to cell differentation is discussed.