Endocytosis and the actin cytoskeleton in Dictyostelium discoideum

Abstract

Endocytosis, an essential process of all eukaryotic cells, requires the actin cytoskeleton for proper functioning. The soil amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum is well known for its contribution to the actin cytoskeleton field. The genetic tractability and the availability of appropriate tools have made of Dictyostelium an attractive model for studies of endocytosis and vesicle trafficking as well. These tools include a large palette of fluorescent protein fusions and the combination of improved fractionation methods with high throughput techniques along with the recently propagated use of the amoeba a host for microbial pathogens. In this review I discuss in a comprehensive manner the evidence accumulated in the literature towards a participation of components of the microfilament system of D. discoideum in endocytic trafficking and conclude with a model that describes the sequence of events and the components involved during the well-investigated uptake phase of the endocytic process in the soil amoeba.