Rapid identification of non-allelic nystatin resistance mutations inDictyostelium discoideum

TLDR: Three methods for rapidly distinguishing mutations in the three complementation groups of Dictyostelium discoideum are demonstrated and it is shown that nys C and non-nys C mutants can be distinguished on the basis of the Lieberman-Burchard color reaction for sterols.

Abstract: Spontaneous nystatin resistance mutations inDictyostelium discoideum fall into three complementation groups;nys A. nys B andnys C. We demonstrate three methods for rapidly distinguishing mutations in the three complementation groups. In the first methodnys B andnys C mutations are identified by their sensitivity to the sterol biosynthesis inhibitors azasterol A25822B and fenarimol respectively. The second method exploits the differential sensitivities of thenys mutations to the polyene antibiotic pimaricin. In the last method we show thatnys C and non-nys C mutants can be distinguished on the basis of the Lieberman-Burchard color reaction for sterols.