Calmodulin function and calmodulin-binding proteins during autoactivation and spore germination in Dictyostelium discoideum

Dictyostelium discoideum spores can be activated to initiate germination either endogenously via a diffusible autoactivator, or exogenously via heat. Following activation, three successive stages of germination occur, the lag stage, spore swelling and amoebal emergence. A previous study [Lydan M. A. and Cotter D. A. (1994) FEBS Lett. 115, 137-142] has shown that spore swelling is dependent on the activity of calmodulin. In this study, the...