[Synergism between aggregation mutants of Dictyostelium discoideum]

The cells of an aggregateless mutant of Dictyostelium discoïdeum, agip 235, can cooperate with other aggregateless or wild strains to form differentiated aggregates. A soluble mediator liberated by the coaggregating cells seems responsible for the development of agip 235. In most cases, the development of mutant agip 235 stops at the aggregation stage; however, its coaggregation with the mutant 518 results in cosporulation, with the production of viable spores of each genotype, effecting a phenotypic suppression of both mutations.