Cell aggregation and sexual differentiation in pairs of aggregation-deficient mutants of Dictyostelium discoideum.
A diffusible aggregation-stimulating factor (ASF) is released from a series of aggregation-deficient mutants. Biochemical markers indicate that these ASF-donor mutants are blocked at a later step of cell differentiation than an ASF-requiring mutant. ASF is able to bridge the initial block of differentiation in the latter mutant, such that development proceeds up to aggregation and even further. ASF is most probably neither identical with cyclic-AMP phosphodiesterase nor with an inhibitor of this enzyme which both are released from donor strains. In certain combinations of aggregation-deficient mutants, macrocysts, the sexual stages of Dictyostelium, are formed. Also, motile giant cells believed to be zygotes are observed in these mutant combinations. The gamone known to be released from one mating type and to induce macrocysts in the other, is probably not identical with ASF since this factor is produced by mutants derived from either one of both mating types.
D015105:3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000818:Animals; D002449:Cell Aggregation; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002999:Clone Cells; D004023:Dictyostelium / Q000254:growth & development*; D009154:Mutation; D009235:Myxomycetes / Q000254:growth & development*; D010641:Phenotype; D012733:Sex Differentiation
D015105:3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases