Monitoring Patterns of Gene Expression in Dictyostelium by -galacotsidase Staining

Monitoring the spatial distribution of prespore and pstB cell types is a sensitive method to monitor GSK-3 and Aar activity during Dictyostelium development. Cell-specific expression of lacZ marker genes can be readily detected using enzymatic cleavage of the substrate X-gal. This protocol describes a simple method for β-galactosidase staining in developed Dictyostelium structures.