Effect of internal deletion of Myosin II on growth and development of Dictyostelium discoideum

Four deletion mutant Dictyostelium myosin II heavy chain genes, My Delta 82 4-941 (Delta 1/3S2), My Delta 934-1454 (Delta S2), My Delta 934-1194 (Delta S2-1) and My Delta 1157-1454 (Delta S2-2), were transformed by standard el ectroporation into mhcA- cells (T-null), a mutant Dictyostelium cell devoid of endogenous myosin II heavy chain gene. The growth, development and form ation of fruiting bodies of cells expressing those mutant myosin II s under suspension culture were investigated by comparison with the wild type cell . The results indicate that internal deletion of myosin II affects the grow th and development of Dictyostelium. Furthermore, the longer the length of deletion, the more serious the defect in phenotype.