abstract: In the collective amoebaDictyostelium minutum aggregation centers are founded by single cells which resemble the known "founder cells" inPolysphondylium violaceum. These founders arise in clonal as well as in mass cultures. They can be distinguished from the other cells only shortly before founding a center. Then they are characterized as rounded cells, which have stopped movement more or less completely. The differentiation of the founder cells is reversible.With the help of time lapse movies the exact time of the release of a chemotactic agent by founder cells could be determined. The release usually begins suddenly from one minute to the next. A founder cell is able to secrete this agentbefore having contact with a second cell. On the other hand the release begins onlyafter the founder cell characteristics become visible.In some strains ofD. minutum aggregation centers often are grouped together in the vicinity of one which originated spontaneously, the "primary center". From the time course of this "secondary center" formation, it can be concluded that these groups of centers are induced by the primary one. It seems that the inducing agent is not identical with the chemotactic substance. As is the case in the primary centers, the foundation of the secondary centers begins with the transformation of an amoeba cell into a founder.
authors.affiliation: Zoologisches Institut der Universität Freiburg i. Br., Deutschland.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerisch