Growth and development of Dictyostelium discoideum overexpressing manganese superoxide dismutase

SUMMARY Dictyostelium discoideum, a soil-dwelling eukaryotic microorganism, encodes a manganese superoxide dismutase named SodM (formerly called SodE). Fluorescence of SodM-GFP fusion protein was detected in mitochondria of D. discoideum, indicating that SodM is a mitochondrialocalizing superoxide dismutase. Expression of sodM was observed throughout the life cycle. Maximum level of gene expression was observed at the aggregation stage. An sodM-overexpressing D. discoideum, sodM oe , grew faster and reached