Fluctuations in Proline and Other Free Amino Acids during the Mitotic Cycle of the Myxomycete Physarum polycephalum

Abstract
During synchronous growth of the acellular slime mold P. polycephalum the free amino pool had 2 maxima, one of 650 units [nmol/plasmodium dry wt (mg)] at metaphase and the other of 780 units in mid G2 with minima of 550 units before and after mitosis. Proline formed 20-25% of the total pool with aspartic acid, glutamic acid, threonine, valine, leucine, lysine and arginine making up 55% of the pool. The fluctuation of proline during the mitotic cycle was quite different from that of the other amino acids, and was transiently very low during telophase.