effect of selected monoterpenoids on the cellular slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum NC4

• Published in: Journal of chemical ecology Vol. 30; no. 6; pp. 1153 - 1163
• Main Authors: Hwang, J.Y, Kim, J.H, Yun, K.W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Springer Nature B.V 01-06-2004
• Subjects: Animals; Culture Media, Conditioned; Dictyostelium - drug effects; Dictyostelium - growth & development; Dictyostelium - physiology; Dictyostelium discoideum; Flowers & plants; forest soils; Fruit - growth & development; Fruit - physiology; Germination - drug effects; Microscopy, Electron; Mold; Monoterpenes - chemistry; Monoterpenes - classification; Monoterpenes - pharmacology; Pinus; Pinus - chemistry; Plant growth; Temperature; Time Factors; Volatilization
• ISSN: 0098-0331; 1573-1561
• DOI: 10.1023/B:JOEC.0000030269.07833.8f

We tested the activity of 11 main compounds identified from Pinus plants on the growth of Dictyostelium discoideum NC4. Four concentrations (1, 0.1, 0.01, 0.001 microgram/microliter) of each compound were tested using a disk volatilization technique following germination of D. discoideum NC4 spores. Photographs of D. discoideum NC4 fruiting bodies were taken 2 days after treatment. Fenchone (at 0.1, 0.01, and 0.001 microgram/microliter) and camphene (at 0.01 microgram/microliter) stimulated growth of D. discoideum NC4. (1S)-(-)-verbenone, (1S)-(-)-alpha-pinene, (+)-beta-pinene, myrcene, (-)-menthone, (-)-bornyl acetate, (S)-(+)-carvone, (-)-camphene, and (R)-(+)-limonene inhibit its growth. All of the compounds at 1 microgram/microliter had a strong inhibitory effect on cell growth of D. discoideum NC4. Microscopic observation of the fruiting bodies matched the results of growth rate analysis. Most of the inhibitory effects were represented by changes in the shapes of the fruiting bodies. These changes include short sorophores, smaller sized sori, and sori without spores. Our results suggest that inhibition of growth is the most common effect of monoterpenoids on D. discoideum NC4. Nevertheless, some of them, like fenchone and camphene, seem to enhance its growth.