AGGREGATION DURING SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT IN DICTYOSTELIUM-DISCOIDEUM

A microcinematographic analysis of the behaviour and movements of cells and cell masses in mated cultures (NC4 X VI2) of Dictyostelium discoideum indicates that a chemotactic process directs cell aggregation during macrocyst development. Zygote giant cells form before aggregation begins and act as the aggregation centres. Young multicellular macrocyst stages are sources of cyclic AMP, and amoebae from macrocyst cultures orient chemotactically to cyclic AMP. The data, coupled with other characteristics such as pulsatile streaming, suggest that the aggregation process leading to macrycyst development is the same as that occurring during fruit construction. Other aspects of sexual development are also discussed. Based upon these data, we propose a model for the sequence of events leading to macrocyst development in D. discoideum.