Beilstein J. Org. Chem.2017,13, 247–250, doi:10.3762/bjoc.13.27
as well as in the design of chemical probes to dissect glorin-mediated signaling pathways.
Keywords: Dictyostelium; glorin; multicellularity; Polysphondylium; signaling molecules; social amoebae; Introduction
The emergence of multicellularity from unicellular ancestors is considered a major
study the emergence of multicellularity since they can exist in both a unicellular and a multicellular stage with a well-orchestrated developmental cycle linking the two [2]. The unicellular amoebae feed on bacteria and divide by binary fission. Upon depletion of their food source, they aggregate to
numerous species of social amoebae such as Polysphondylium pallidum, Dictyostelium fasciculatum [11], and D. caveatum [12], amongst others respond chemotactically to glorin (1), the acrasin has only been isolated from P. violaceum [13]. Despite its crucial role in the initiation of multicellularity, little