Stimulation of late interphase Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae with an external cyclic AMP signal.

The microelectrode system described in the accompanying paper was used to investigate properties of fields of Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae in late interphase. Cells in the fields were competent to respond chemotactically to, and to relay, a c-AMP signal, but not to produce an aggregative signal autonomously. The experimental results are generally consistent with c-AMP being the sole compound required for chemotaxis and signal relaying. A periodic signal from the microelectrode can initiate and control aggregation and can complete with spontaneously arising aggregates. The electrode was used to measure the refractory period for relaying which decreases from 9 min or more to between 2 and 3 min with increasing developmental age, and to measure thresholds for chemotaxis and signal relaying. The results are discussed in relation to models for the control of aggregation in D. discoideum.