Differanisole A, an inducer of the differentiation of Friend leukemic cells, induces stalk cell differentiation in Dictyostelium discoideum

Differanisole A isolated from the conditioned medium of a soil microorganism, Chaetomium strain RB-001, is an inducer of the differentiation of the Friend leukemic cells (mouse leukemia cells). The chemical structure of this substance is very similar to that of stalk cell differentiation-inducing factor (DIF) isolated from the cellular slime mould, Dictyostelium discoideum. We examined the effects of differanisole A on Dictyostelium HM44 cells, a mutant strain which is defective in DIF production, and found this substance to be an inducer of stalk cell differentiation in D. discoideum.