Control of Aggregation in Dictyostelium discoideum by an External Periodic Pulse of Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate

We have induced and controlled normal aggregation of Dictyostelium discoideum amoebas by electrophoretic release of pulses of cyclic adenosine monophosphate from a microelectrode. This has yielded information about the sequence of development of aggregation competences during interphase. We believe that modifications of the technique will have wide application in investigations of other developing systems.