FIG. 4.

Analysis of early signaling mutants. In a monoculture starvation assay, (A) DZ2 forms fruiting bodies in 48 h, whereas (B) asgD mutant and (C) relA mutant strains are defective at aggregation. In a coculture predation assay, (D to G) DZ2, (H to K) asgD mutant, and (L to O) relA mutant strains are all proficient at inducing fruiting aggregation, particularly at the edges of the predation zone. Pictures were captured at 0, 40, 64, and 74 h (left to right) during predation. Analysis of wet mounts indicated that phase-bright spores are present in the predation-induced aggregates of (P) DZ2 but not (Q) asgD mutant or (R) relA mutant cells.