Evidence for a membrane mating receptor in Didymium iridis

Abstract

Haploid myxamoebal mating types, Panamanian 2-7 A8 and Honduran 1-2 A1, of the acellular slime mold Didymium iridis, were isolated in pure culture on growth media. These isolates were then subjected to proper fixation, collection, purification, and staining utilizing the Feulgen reaction, and a microspectrophotometric analysis was performed to determine nuclear DNA content, and its relationship to the cell's ploidy level.

These two isolates were combined on growth media and the resulting plasmodia were similarly prepared and analyzed as the pure isolates. Both isolates were also placed on growth media modified by the addition of Concanavalin A. The resulting culture was also prepared and analyzed as above. All data collected was subsequently subjected to statistical analysis. It was the purpose of this study, to determine if a membrane bound receptor is necessary for plasmodial formation between compatible mating types of D. iridis.