Evidence for chemotaxis during sexual development in Dictyostelium discoideum

Abstract

Amoebae in mated cultures of Dictyostelium discoideum show oriented movement towards young aggregates, suggesting that chemotaxis is involved in macrocyst development. Amoebae also show directional movement towards midendocyte stages, indicating that as the macrocyst develops it continues to be a source of chemoattractant. These data are discussed in terms of our current knowledge about mating in the cellular slime moulds.