Sexual hormone in the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium purpureum

Abstract

The existence of sexual hormone in D. purpureum was revealed when the extracellular medium from certain strains (Dp6 or Dp7) induced macrocyst formation when added to cells of the opposite mating type (Dp2). Mating in cellular slime molds may involve a secreter-responder system whereby 1 mating-type strain (Dp6 or Dp7) releases sexual hormone while the opposite strain (Dp2) responds. The existence of a hormone released by the responding strain has not been completely ruled out. The sexual hormones of cellular slime molds appear to be species-specific since hormone from D. purpureum cannot induce macrocyst formation in responder strains of D. discoideum and hormone from D. discoideum has no effect on D. purpureum cells.