Variation in the excitability of developed D. discoideum cells as a function of agar concentration in the substrate

ORAL

Abstract

In the absence of nutrients, Dictyostelium discoideum cells enter a developmental cycle--they signal each other, aggregate, and ultimately form fruiting bodies. During the signaling stage, the cells relay waves of cyclic adenosine 3',5' monophosphate (cAMP). We observed a transition from spiral to circular patterns in the signaling wave, depending on the agar concentration of the substrate. In this talk we will present the changes in the times for the onset of signaling and synchronization versus agar concentration, as measured by spectral entropy. We also will discuss the origin of these effects.

*This work was supported by the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft.

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Authors

  • Noriko Oikawa

    • Kyushu University
    • MPI for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Goettingen

  • Albert Bae

    • MPI for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Goettingen and LASSP, Cornell University, Ithaca
    • LASSP, Cornell University, Ithaca and MPI for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Goettingen
    • LASSP, Cornell University, Ithaca and MPI for Dynamics and Selforganization, Goettingen

  • Gabriel Amselem

    • MPI for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Goettingen

  • Eberhard Bodenschatz

    • Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization
    • MPI for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Goettingen and LASSP, Cornell University, Ithaca
    • LASSP, Cornell University, Ithaca and MPI for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Goettingen
    • LASSP, Cornell University, Ithaca and MPI for Dynamics and Selforganization, Goettingen