Increases in the intracellular concentration of glycerol during development in Myxococcus xanthus

The role of glycerol as a natural morphogen of myxospore formation in Myxococcus xanthus was examined. Glycerol was extracted from cells undergoing development and analyzed by gas chromatography. Glycerol is present in cells, and the intracellular level undergoes a series of transient increases during development. The data suggest a role for glycerol in myxosporulation and fruiting body morphogenesis, supporting the notion that this chemical induction of sporulation may represent a physiological pathway in development.