Abstract
The myxomycetePhysarum polycephalum synthesizes copious amounts of slime when differentiating into the hard walled resting stage. The chemical composition of slime obtained after introduction of spherulation in a nutrient and a non-nutrient salt-medium has been analysed and compared. The composition of slime is almost identical after the two different induction methods. This slime could be labelled with radioactived-[U-14C]glucose,32PO4 3−,35SO4 2− and75SeO4 2−. The kinetics of slime secretion after both induction methods has been followed using different criteria. The sulfate analog75SeO4 2− seems to be incorporated into the slime, partially replacing sulfate groups of the sulfated polysaccharide. Furthermore,d-[U-14C]glucose was used to labe the spherule walls. Determination of an alkali resistent polysaccharide component serves as a new method to follow wall formation.
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Zaar, K. Composition, secretion kinetics and radioactive labelling of the extracellular slime polysaccharide secreted during spherulation ofPhysarum polycephalum . Arch. Microbiol. 117, 303–308 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00738551
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00738551