Discovery of Widespread Migrasome Formation During Amoeboid Migration in Dictyostelium discoideum

Migrasomes are organelles that form along retraction fibers of migrating cells and mediate intercellular communication. We performed localization studies on the calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding protein, copine E (CpnE), in <i>Dictyostelium discoideum</i> . We observed GFP-CpnE labeled retraction fibers and migrasomes in multiple contexts: chemotaxis toward folate, random migration, and early development. Migrasome membranes were stained with WGA and some migrasomes were stained with SYTO RNASelect, indicating the presence of RNA. Our findings suggest that CpnE may have a role in migrasome formation and indicate that migrasomes may play important roles in <i>Dictyostelium</i> development, cell communication, and/or homeostasis in a variety of environments.