Cytoskeletons from a mutant of Dictyostelium discoideum with flattened cells

Development of a mutant of Dictyostelium discoideum, HG403, is described whose cells spread strongly on a substratum. Although the mutant cells were less clearly polarized into the front and rear ends, and usually less extensively elongated than wild-type cells, their aggregation pattern was only slightly less regular. Cells of the mutant responded well to cyclic AMP by chemotaxis, although their capability of stabilizing cell shape and maintaining dominance of a single moving front appeared to be reduced. Mutant HG403 proved to be ideal for the preparation of cytoskeletons in which the organization of the microtubular system, the network of filaments between them, the dense texture of the microfilament network at the periphery of the cells, as well as the bundling of microfilaments in spike-like extensions, could be observed.