Quantitative Analysis of Macrocyst Formation in Dictyostelium discoideum

Genetics Department, Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, A.C.T., Australia ABSTRACT Quantitative studies are reported on macrocyst formation, the sexual cycle in Dictyostelium discoideum , under conditions in which asexual fruiting body formation is prevented. Light inhibited amoebae of both mating types from participating in macrocyst formation, and amoebae of the mata mating type responded better to a mating stimulus than amoebae of the matA mating type. These results are interpreted in terms of a possible two-way induction system leading to macrocyst formation in D. discoideum . Present address: Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie, D-8033 Martinsried bei München, Federal Republic of Germany.