Proteolysis and orientation in Dictyostelium slugs.

Abstract

It has been long known that the migrating slugs of the cellular slime moulds are highly sensitive to their environment and orient towards light and in temperature and chemical gradients. There is considerable evidence from past work that these orientations are governed by NH3 which affects the rate of movement of cells within the slug with such precision that orientation to the external stimuli is achieved. In order to test this hypothesis further, various ways to alter the internal NH3 concentration were devised. Substances that either increased or decreased proteolysis were applied to one side of the tip of a slug, thereby affecting its orientation. Some of the treatments strongly support the role of internally produced NH3 in orientation, and all the treatments produce results that are consistent with the hypothesis.