| Abstract: | Three mutations affecting spore maturation in the asexual fruiting body of Dictyostelium discoideum are assigned to a new locus, sprJ, on linkage group IV. Strains carrying mutations at the sprJ locus do not form mature spores, yet the cell patterning (spore, stalk and disc cell ratios) is apparently normal. These mutations will be useful to delineate branch points between the cell patterning and spore maturation pathways. There are some unusual features of the sprJ-containing mutants. In particular each of the parent strains of the three mutants has incomplete spore maturation as determined by colony-forming ability after heat shocking at 45°C. A mutation allowing growth in the presence of benlate (600 μg/ml), benA351, is mapped to linkage group I. |
