acrasin
noun
acra·sin
| \ ə-ˈkrā-sᵊn
\
\
plural acrasins
Definition of acrasin
: a substance (such as cyclic AMP) that is secreted by myxamoebae of various cellular slime molds (such as those of the genus Dictyostelium or Acrasis) and that functions as a chemotactic agent attracting and causing the aggregation of similar amoeboid cells into a pseudoplasmodium
The cells are not only oriented by … acrasin, but induced to secrete it; they thus relay the orienting signals.— B. M. Shaffer, Nature, 12 June 1975
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