A cell-cycle-phase-specific mutant of amoeba.

The treatment of Amoeba indica with ethylmethanesulphonate (EMS) at early S, late S and late G2 phases of the cell cycle leads to the production of mini amoeba cells in the G2 period. Among them, only a few of the mini cells that originated from EMS treatment at early S phase have been found to be viable and to give rise to stable clones. These mini amoebae show stable and altered characteristic features in cell size, structure, membrane properties, cell-cycle timing and the patterns of macromolecular syntheses as compared to the parental cells. It is suggested that the mini amoeba cell is a size mutant that has a cell-cycle-phase-specific origin. The finding is discussed in relation to preferential mutagenic action involving the functional state of DNA leading to the production of viable mutant amoebae.