Figure 8. Phenotypes of deletion and over-expression of Dock proteins.

(a) cAMP dependent actin polymerisation response measured in wild type (Ax₂) cells (red), docA KO cells (green), docB KO cells (blue) and docA/docB double KO cells (purple). Graph shows quantification of actin bands in the cytoskeletal fractions separated by SDS-PAGE and stained with fluorescent protein dye – Krypton. Plots represent means and standard errors of four separate experiments normalised to the pre-stimulation time point. (b) Velocity data of wild type strain (Ax₂), strains over-expressing Dock proteins and knock-out mutants. Vegetative cells expressing LifeAct-RFP were imaged with confocal microscope during random walk for 20 minutes; their velocity was quantified using Quimp software. Bars represent average velocities and standard errors from at least 15 cells. The over-expressors showed statistically significant (t-Test) increased velocity (Ax₂/DockA (p=5.4e⁻¹⁴), Ax₂/DockB, (p=3.6e⁻⁷)) and the knock-outs were significantly slower (Ax₂/docA⁻ (p=1e⁻²), Ax₂/docB⁻ (p=1e⁻⁴), Ax₂/docA⁻docB⁻ (p=4.9e⁻⁷)) compared to wild type Ax₂ cells.