Prolinin

Prolinin is a protein found in the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum. It plays a role in cell adhesion and cell movement during the organism's life cycle. Specifically, prolinin is a type of integrin, which are transmembrane receptors that mediate cell-extracellular matrix adhesion. These interactions are crucial for various cellular processes, including migration, differentiation, and survival.

In Dictyostelium discoideum, prolinin is expressed on the surface of amoeboid cells. It binds to components of the extracellular matrix, such as collagen and fibronectin, facilitating the cells' ability to attach to and move across these surfaces. This adhesive function is particularly important during the aggregation phase of the Dictyostelium life cycle, where individual cells migrate towards each other to form a multicellular slug. Prolinin helps to coordinate this collective migration by enabling cells to interact with their environment and with each other.

Research into prolinin has provided insights into the fundamental mechanisms of cell adhesion and migration, which are conserved across many eukaryotic organisms, including humans. Understanding the structure and function of prolinin can contribute to our knowledge of cell biology and potentially inform studies related to diseases involving abnormal cell movement, such as cancer metastasis.