Arsenic inhibits folic acid chemotaxis and phagocytosis in growing Dictyostelium amoebae

Signal transduction systems like folic acid chemotaxis and folate deaminase activity involved in phagocytotic pathways are greatly impaired in 150µg mL⁻¹ arsenic (As⁺³) treated growing cells of Dictyostelium discoideum. Other growth-related functions like cell proliferation and colony formation are also inhibited in the treated cells. These findings are discussed in relation to action of arsenic on microtubules, cell membrane and cell morphology.