scholarly journals Entamoeba histolytica Encodes Unique Formins, a Subset of Which Regulates DNA Content and Cell Division

2008 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 2368-2378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shubhra Majumder ◽  
Anuradha Lohia

ABSTRACT The formin family of proteins mediates dynamic changes in actin assembly in eukaryotes, and therefore it is important to understand the function of these proteins in Entamoeba histolytica, where actin forms the major cytoskeletal network. In this study we have identified the formin homologs encoded in the E. histolytica genome based on sequence analysis. Using multiple tools, we have analyzed the primary sequences of the eight E. histolytica formins and discovered three subsets: (i) E. histolytica formin-1 to -3 (Ehformin-1 to -3), (ii) Ehformin-4, and (iii) Ehformin-5 to -8. Two of these subsets (Ehformin-1 to -3 and Ehformin-4) showed significant sequence differences from their closest homologs, while Ehformin-5 to -8 were unique among all known formins. Since Ehformin-1 to -3 showed important sequence differences from Diaphanous-related formins (DRFs), we have studied the functions of Ehformin-1 and -2 in E. histolytica transformants. Like other DRFs, Ehformin-1 and -2 associated with F-actin in response to serum factors, in pseudopodia, in pinocytic and phagocytic vesicles, and at cell division sites. Ehformin-1 and -2 also localized with the microtubular assembly in the nucleus, indicating their involvement in genome segregation. While increased expression of Ehformin-1 and -2 did not affect phagocytosis or motility, it clearly showed an increase in the number of binucleated cells, the number of nuclei in multinucleated cells, and the average DNA content of each nucleus, suggesting that these proteins regulate both mitosis and cytokinesis in E. histolytica.

1980 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 375-394
Author(s):  
N.N. Bobyleva ◽  
B.N. Kudrjavtsev ◽  
I.B. Raikov

The DNA content of isolated micronuclei, differentiating macronuclei (macronuclear Anlagen), and adult macronuclei of Loxodes magnus was measured cytofluorimetrically in preparations stained with a Schiff-type reagent, auramine-SO2, following hydrochloric acid hydrolysis. The DNA content of the youngest macronuclear Anlagen proved to be the same as that of telophasic micronuclei (2 c). The Anlagen thus differentiate from micronuclei which are still in G1. The quantity of DNA in the macronuclear Anlagen thereafter rises to the 4-c level, simultaneously with DNA replication in the micronuclei which immediately follows mitosis. In non-dividing animals most micronuclei are already in G2. Adult macronuclei here contain on average 1.5 times more DNA than the micronuclei; their DNA content is about 5–6 c (in some individual nuclei, up to 10 c). These data are consistent with autoradiographic evidence indicating a weak DNA synthesis in the macronuclei of Loxodes and make likely the existence of partial DNA replication (e.g. gene amplification) in the macronuclei. The DNA content of adult macronuclei isolated from dividing animals proved to be significantly smaller than that of macronuclei isolated from non-dividing specimens of the same clone. In 3 clones studied, the former value amounted on average to 71–79, 78 and 95% of the latter, respectively. This drop of DNA content cannot be explained by ‘dilution’ of the old macronuclei with newly formed ones. The quantity of DNA in adult macronuclei thus seems to undergo cyclical changes correlated with cytokinesis, despite the fact that, in Loxodes magnus, the macronuclei themselves never divide and are simply segregated at every cell division. The macronuclei of Loxodes can be termed paradiploid or hyperdiploid.


Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1463
Author(s):  
Xochitl Morales-de la Cruz ◽  
Alejandra Mandujano-Chávez ◽  
Daniel R. Browne ◽  
Timothy P. Devarenne ◽  
Lino Sánchez-Segura ◽  
...  

Botryococcus braunii produce liquid hydrocarbons able to be processed into combustion engine fuels. Depending on the growing conditions, the cell doubling time can be up to 6 days or more, which is a slow growth rate in comparison with other microalgae. Few studies have analyzed the cell cycle of B. braunii. We did a bioinformatic comparison between the protein sequences for retinoblastoma and cyclin-dependent kinases from the A (Yamanaka) and B (Showa) races, with those sequences from other algae and Arabidopsis thaliana. Differences in the number of cyclin-dependent kinases and potential retinoblastoma phosphorylation sites between the A and B races were found. Some cyclin-dependent kinases from both races seemed to be phylogenetically more similar to A. thaliana than to other microalgae. Microscopic observations were done using several staining procedures. Race A colonies, but not race B, showed some multinucleated cells without chlorophyll. An active mitochondrial net was detected in those multinucleated cells, as well as being defined in polyphosphate bodies. These observations suggest differences in the cell division processes between the A and B races of B. braunii.


1966 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Pia Viola-Magni

A considerable decrease (24 to 40%) of DNA content per nucleus previously observed in the adrenal medulla of rats exposed intermittently to cold is followed by restoration to normal and supranormal values. This phenomenon has now been studied by use of H3-thymidine, which was given to normal rats, to rats exposed to cold, and to animals brought to room temperature after cold exposure. In the first two conditions, no significant labeling of nuclei was observed. In the third, labeling took place clearly in the 1st 3 days. The grain counts showed that the early labeled nuclei had more grains than those labeled later, indicating differences in the rate of DNA synthesis. A statistically significant correlation was found, on the same nuclei, between amount of Feulgen dye and number of grains. It is concluded that net synthesis of DNA takes place in the phase of recovery from cold. This fact is not related to cell division, as no mitoses could ever be detected, but rather to the cold-induced loss of DNA. Clear demonstration is thus given of a marked variation in the amount of DNA per nucleus in relation to the functional conditions of adrenal medulla cells.


2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (10) ◽  
pp. 1069-1084 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi M. Blank ◽  
Ophelia Papoulas ◽  
Nairita Maitra ◽  
Riddhiman Garge ◽  
Brian K. Kennedy ◽  
...  

In several systems, including budding yeast, cell cycle-dependent changes in the transcriptome are well studied. In contrast, few studies queried the proteome during cell division. There is also little information about dynamic changes in metabolites and lipids in the cell cycle. Here, the authors present such information for dividing yeast cells.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan L. Gliozzi ◽  
Eugenel B. Espiritu ◽  
Katherine E. Shipman ◽  
Youssef Rbaibi ◽  
Kimberly R. Long ◽  
...  

BackgroundLowe syndrome (LS) is an X-linked recessive disorder caused by mutations in OCRL, which encodes the enzyme OCRL. Symptoms of LS include proximal tubule (PT) dysfunction typically characterized by low molecular weight proteinuria, renal tubular acidosis (RTA), aminoaciduria, and hypercalciuria. How mutant OCRL causes these symptoms isn’t clear.MethodsWe examined the effect of deleting OCRL on endocytic traffic and cell division in newly created human PT CRISPR/Cas9 OCRL knockout cells, multiple PT cell lines treated with OCRL-targeting siRNA, and in orcl-mutant zebrafish.ResultsOCRL-depleted human cells proliferated more slowly and about 10% of them were multinucleated compared with fewer than 2% of matched control cells. Heterologous expression of wild-type, but not phosphatase-deficient, OCRL prevented the accumulation of multinucleated cells after acute knockdown of OCRL but could not rescue the phenotype in stably edited knockout cell lines. Mathematic modeling confirmed that reduced PT length can account for the urinary excretion profile in LS. Both ocrl mutant zebrafish and zebrafish injected with ocrl morpholino showed truncated expression of megalin along the pronephric kidney, consistent with a shortened S1 segment.ConclusionsOur data suggest a unifying model to explain how loss of OCRL results in tubular proteinuria as well as the other commonly observed renal manifestations of LS. We hypothesize that defective cell division during kidney development and/or repair compromises PT length and impairs kidney function in LS patients.


2002 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 3532-3545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark C. Surka ◽  
Christopher W. Tsang ◽  
William S. Trimble

Cytokinesis in animal cells involves the contraction of an actomyosin ring formed at the cleavage furrow. Nuclear division, or karyokinesis, must be precisely timed to occur before cytokinesis in order to prevent genetic anomalies that would result in either cell death or uncontrolled cell division. The septin family of GTPase proteins has been shown to be important for cytokinesis although little is known about their role during this process. Here we investigate the distribution and function of the mammalian septin MSF. We show that during interphase, MSF colocalizes with actin, microtubules, and another mammalian septin, Nedd5, and coprecipitates with six septin proteins. In addition, transfections of various MSF isoforms reveal that MSF-A specifically localizes with microtubules and that this localization is disrupted by nocodazole treatment. Furthermore, MSF isoforms localize primarily with tubulin at the central spindle during mitosis, whereas Nedd5 is mainly associated with actin. Microinjection of affinity-purified anti-MSF antibodies into synchronized cells, or depletion of MSF by small interfering RNAs, results in the accumulation of binucleated cells and in cells that have arrested during cytokinesis. These results reveal that MSF is required for the completion of cytokinesis and suggest a role that is distinct from that of Nedd5.


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 19-26
Author(s):  
Musafer Al-Ardi

Entamoeba histolytica, likes other Organismes, is characterized by diversity and heterogeneity in its genetic content, which is one of the most paramount reasons for survival, and the increase in susceptibility to infection. Non-condensation of chromosomes during the process of cell division and the ambiguity of the chromosomal ploidy makes predicting the exact chromosomal numeral difficult. Genes distributed across 14 chromosomes as well as many extra-chromosome elements. Most Genes compose of one axon only, with Introns in 25% of Genes. This genome is characterized by the presence of Polymorphic internal repeat regions, and several gene families, one of these large families encoding Transmembrane kinas, Cysteine protease (CP), SREHP protein, and others.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Landino ◽  
Marcin Leda ◽  
Ani Michaud ◽  
Zachary T. Swider ◽  
Mariah Prom ◽  
...  

SummaryThe cell cortex, comprised of the plasma membrane and underlying cytoskeleton, undergoes dynamic reorganizations during a variety of essential biological processes including cell adhesion, cell migration, and cell division1,2. During cell division and cell locomotion, for example, waves of filamentous-actin (F-actin) assembly and disassembly develop in the cell cortex in a process termed “cortical excitability”3–7. In developing frog and starfish embryos, cortical excitability is generated through coupled positive and negative feedback, with rapid activation of Rho-mediated F-actin assembly followed in space and time by F-actin-dependent inhibition of Rho8,9. These feedback loops are proposed to serve as a mechanism for amplification of active Rho signaling at the cell equator to support furrowing during cytokinesis, while also maintaining flexibility for rapid error correction in response to movement of the mitotic spindle during chromosome segregation10. In this paper, we develop an artificial cortex based on Xenopus egg extract and supported lipid bilayers (SLBs), to investigate cortical Rho and F-actin dynamics11. This reconstituted system spontaneously develops two distinct dynamic patterns: singular excitable Rho and F-actin waves and non-traveling oscillatory Rho and F-actin patches. Both types of dynamic patterns have properties and dependencies similar to the cortical excitability previously characterized in vivo9. These findings directly support the longstanding speculation that the cell cortex is a self-organizing structure and present a novel approach for investigating mechanisms of Rho-GTPase-mediated cortical dynamics.HighlightsAn artificial cell cortex comprising Xenopus egg extract on a supported lipid bilayer self-organizes into complex, dynamic patterns of active Rho and F-actinWe identified two types of reconstituted cortical dynamics – excitable waves and coherent oscillationsReconstituted waves and oscillations require Rho activity and F-actin polymerization


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