title: Analysis of an inducer of the amoebal-plasmodial transition in the myxomycetes Didymium iridis and Physarum polycephalum.
abstract: Recent studies with amoebae of the Myxomycetes Didymium iridis and Physarum polycephalum reveal that competence to undergo sexual fusion or to differentiate to plasmodia apogamically can be induced by a diffusible factor. Suspension cultures of Didymium amoebae have proven to be a good source of the inducer activity. Cell-free culture supernatants accelerated mating of Didymium and Physarum amoebae and also apogamic differentiation of the Physarum strain Colonia . Characterization and purification of the inducer activity is being conducted with a semiquantitative bioassay based on the induction of zygote formation in suspensions of mating-compatible Didymium amoebae.
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D002848:Chromatography, DEAE-Cellulose; D004355:Drug Stability; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D009235:Myxomycetes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D010804:Physarum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D012685:Sepharose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; C035597:phenylboronic acid-sepharose; D012685:Sepharose