In vivo acylation of Dictyostelium actin with palmitic acid

Cells of Dictyostelium discoideum were incubated with [³H]palmitic acid during development, and recovery of the fatty acid label in soluble and membrane-associated proteins was investigated. One of the major labeled proteins was found exclusively in the soluble fraction. This protein, with an apparent mol. wt. of 44 kd, was identified as actin based on its labeling with a monoclonal anti-actin antibody, its coincidence with the major [³⁵S]methionine-labeled protein after two-dimensional electrophoresis and its binding to a DNase I affinity column. The ³H-label was resistant to chloroform-methanol extraction and boiling in SDS-containing buffer. After partial purification by preparative SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the 44-kd protein was treated with KOH, the fatty acids released were derivatized to methyl esters and palmitic acid methylester was identified by gas-liquid chromatography.