The cell cycle of Entamoeba histolytica

Lohia, Anuradha (2003) The cell cycle of Entamoeba histolytica Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 253 (1-2). pp. 217-222. ISSN 0300-8177

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Official URL: http://www.springerlink.com/content/v5407hu8u3jp57...

Related URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1026055631421

Abstract

Entamoeba histolytica, is a microaerophilic protist, which causes amoebic dysentery in humans. This unicellular organism proliferates in the human intestine as the motile trophozoite and survives the hostile environment outside the human host as the dormant quadri-nucleate cyst. Lack of organelles - such as mitochondria and Golgi bodies - and an unequal mode of cell division, led to the popular belief, that this organism preceded other eukaryotes during evolution. However, data from several laboratories have shown that, contrary to this belief, E. histolytica is remarkable in its divergence from other eukaryotes. This uniqueness is witnessed in many aspects of its biochemical pathways, cellular biology and genetic diversity. In this context, I have analysed the cell division cycle of this organism and compared it to that of other eukaryotes. Studies on E. histolytica, suggest that in its proliferative phase, this organism may accumulate polyploid cells. Thus 'checkpoints' regulating alternation of genome duplication and cell division appear to be absent in this unicellular protist. Sequence homologs of several cell cycle regulating proteins have been identified in amoeba, but their structural divergence suggests that they may not have equivalent function in this organism. The regulation of cell proliferation in E. histolytica, may be ideally suited to survival of a parasite in a complex host. Analysis of these molecular details may offer solutions for eradicating the pathogen by hitherto unknown methods.

Item Type:Article
Source:Copyright of this article belongs to Springer-Verlag.
Keywords:Entamoeba; Protozoan Parasite; Cell Cycle; DNA Synthesis; Cell Division; Polyploidy
ID Code:19496
Deposited On:22 Nov 2010 12:30
Last Modified:22 Nov 2010 12:30

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