Figure 5
From: Phospholipase Cδ regulates germination of Dictyostelium spores
The function of Dd-PLC-δ during spore germination The figure shows fate decisions that are made during the germination of Dictyostelium spores. Food triggers spore germination. However, before an amoeba emerges, environmental conditions that can not support growth induce the activated spore to return to dormancy. Deletion of Dd-PLCδ causes the activated spore to germinate at these unfavourable conditions, leading to death of the emerging amoeba. For spore germination high IP3 levels are essential. In Dictyostelium IP3 can be formed via two routes, PLC acting on PIP2 and MIPP acting on IP5. Cells lacking PLC possess high IP3 levels due to the enhanced activity of MIPP. Unfavourable conditions for spore germination inhibit PLC activity, leading to a reduction of IP3 levels in wild-type cells, but unfavourable conditions have no effect on MIPP by which IP3 levels remain high in plc-null cells.