Adenosine Triphosphate and Synchronous Mitosis in Physarum polycephalum

Abstract

Synchronous mitoses occur in P. polycephalum in the absence of cell division. Nucleoside and nucleotide profiles were prepared from synchronously growing P. polycephalum at intervals throughout the growth cycle. Comparison of these profiles demonstrates that the pool of ATP decreases from a high level at prophase to a minimum through mitosis and increases again in the postmitotic period. These events appear to coincide with changes in the pools of ADP and adenosine but not with that of AMP. This observed decrease in the pool of ATP during mitosis was confirmed by direct enzymatic assay. These results presumably reflect the energy demands of the cell during mitosis.