Abstract

The regulation of actin gene expression during the differentiation of Naegleria gruberi was examined. Actin mRNA concentration was maximal in amoebae and decreased rapidly after the initiation of differentiation. At 20 min after initiation, the concentration of actin mRNA decreased to 55% of the maximal value. The actin mRNA concentration decreased to the minimum at 80 min (15% of the maximum), and then began to increase slightly at the end of differentiation. This decrease of actin mRNA concentration was regulated by the repression of actin gene transcription based on nuclear runon transcription experiments. The rates of transcription of actin gene in nuclei prepared at 40 and 80 min after the initiation of differentiation were 50 and 28% of that of nuclei prepared at the beginning of differentiation, respectively. The addition of cycloheximide at the initiation of differentiation inhibited both the rapid decrease in the concentration of actin mRNA and the repression of actin gene transcription. These results suggest that the rapid decrease in the concentration of actin mRNA during the differentiation of N. gruberi is accomplished by the repression of actin gene transcription and this transcriptional regulation requires continuous protein synthesis during the differentiation.

• Keywords: Naegleria gruberi; actin; repression of transcription; transcription regulation