EN
Messenger RNA levels of three rcw-family genes (Pprasl, Ppras2, and Pprapl) were measured in different life forms and throughout the cell cycle of the slime mold Physarum polycephalum. All three genes are expressed at constant rates in the uninucleate amoebae and flagellates, regardless of the culture conditions (solid or liquid medium, particulate or dissolved nutrients). In the multinucleate stages (micro- and macroplasmodia) Pprasl and Pprapl mRNAs are somewhat less abundant, while Ppras2 is not expressed at all. The early stages of the amoeba-plasmodium transition proceed without any drop in Ppras2 expression. During the synchronous cell cycle in macroplasmodia Pprasl and Pprapl arc expressed at a constant level.