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Protocols for growth and development of Dictyostelium discoideum

Nature Protocols volume 2, pages 1307–1316 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Dictyostelium discoideum, a unicellular organism capable of developing into a multicellular structure, is a powerful model system to study a variety of biological processes. Because it is inexpensive and relatively easy to grow, Dictyostelium is also frequently used in teaching laboratories. Here we describe conditions for successfully growing and developing Dictyostelium cells and methods for long-term storage of Dictyostelium amoebae and spores.

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Figure 1: D. discoideum morphogenesis.
Figure 2: Schematic of a hemocytometer counting grid.
Figure 3: Developmental stages of D. discoideum.
Figure 4: Setup for Dictyostelium development on filters in a humid chamber.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Geraldine Amargo for her advice in preparing this manuscript. dictyBase (http://www.dictybase.org) is supported by grants from the NIH (GM64426 and HG00022).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. dictyBase, Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 North Saint Clair Street, Suite 1260, Chicago, 60611, Illinois, USA

    Petra Fey, Pascale Gaudet, Karen E Pilcher & Rex L Chisholm

  2. Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E. Superior, Lurie Building, Room 7-125, Chicago, 60611, Illinois, USA

    Anthony S Kowal & Rex L Chisholm

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  1. Petra Fey
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Correspondence to Rex L Chisholm.

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Fey, P., Kowal, A., Gaudet, P. et al. Protocols for growth and development of Dictyostelium discoideum. Nat Protoc 2, 1307–1316 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2007.178

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