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Selfing mutants from heterothallic strains of Physarum polycephalum

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 April 2009

N. K. Honey
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
R. T. M. Poulter
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
P. J. Winter
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Plasmodial formation in the myxomycete Physarum polycephalum is controlled by a mating type (mt) locus, with heterothallic amoebae normally being unable to form plasmodia in pure clones. We report the isolation by mutagenesis of selfing mutants from heterothallic strains, and their analysis. Various amoebal strains of different mating types were mutagenized with a range of mutagens, and a number of selfing mutants (designated Het) were isolated. A specific sensitivity of mt2 amoebae to mutagenesis by NMG was observed. This sensitivity segregated as a single locus closely linked or allelic to the mt2 locus. When the Het clones were incubated at 30 °C, selfing was greatly inhibited. This property was used to determine the mt specificities of four Het clones. The process of plasmodial induction in pure clones of CL was also studied using the 30 °C temperature effect.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1981

References

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