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ENZYMATIC DISSOCIATION OF NASCENT MACROCYSTS AND PARTITION OF THE LIBERATED CYTOPHAGIC GIANT CELLS IN DICTYOSTELIUM MUCOROIDES *
Author(s) -
FUKUI YOSHIO
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
development, growth and differentiation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.864
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1440-169X
pISSN - 0012-1592
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-169x.1976.00145.x
Subject(s) - giant cell , dictyostelium discoideum , centrifugation , differential centrifugation , biology , cell wall , polysaccharide , slime mold , phagocytosis , holdfast , chemistry , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , botany , genetics , gene
Nascent macrocysts of the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium mucoroides were dissociated enzymatically and the liberated cytophagic giant cells were partitioned by dextrin density gradient centrifugation. Enzymatic and cytochemical studies revealed that the primary wall is composed mainly of cellulose (β‐1,4‐glucan) associated with polysaccharides including hemicellulose, pectic substances and á‐1,4‐glucan. The buoyant density of the liberated cytophagic giant cells and peripheral cells was determined by density gradient centrifugation, and partitioning of the cells was possible due to the difference in this property. The process of macrocyst reconstitution was investigated using dissociated cells. The isolated cytophagic giant cell has a specific affinity for other cytophagic giant cells and predominantly ingests them by phagocytosis, while it retains the ability to ingest peripheral cells. The present study provides a clue for investigating the differentiation and development of sexual cells, since only the cytophagic giant cell gives rise to a zygote in macrocyst formation.