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Localization of cytoplasmic nucleic acid during growth and encystment of Entamoeba invadens

Journal Article · · Journal of Cell Biology
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.20.3.389· OSTI ID:1629414
 [1];  [2]
  1. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Division of Biological and Medical Research; DOE/OSTI
  2. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Division of Biological and Medical Research
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With a modified color-translating ultraviolet microscope, the distribution of material showing an absorption maximum at 265 mµ was studied in samples from whole cultures of Entamoeba invadens at intervals during growth and from cysts allowed to mature under controlled conditions. Absorption by the cytoplasm in general gradually increased as trophozoites approached the period of maximum encystment. In late trophozoites and precystic forms, the absorbing material was concentrated into small bodies which coalesced to form large crystalloids of very high specific absorption. Maximum crystallization occurred in early cysts, where cytochemical tests have shown the large crystalloids to be ribonucleoprotein. Electron micrographs show that the crystalloids are composed of particles 200 to 300 A in diameter. During cyst maturation the amount of absorbing material per cyst is not visibly reduced, but the large bodies fragment into smaller units until finally there is only a very high diffuse absorption over the entire cyst. From these and other results the hypothesis is advanced that the large crystalloids ("chromatoid bodies") are a manifestation of a special parasite-host adaptive mechanism; ribonucleoprotein is synthesized under favorable conditions, crystallized in the resistant cyst stage, and dispersed in the newly excysted amebae thereby enabling them to establish themselves in a new host by a period of quick growth.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER). Biological Systems Science Division
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
1629414
Journal Information:
Journal of Cell Biology, Journal Name: Journal of Cell Biology Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 20; ISSN 0021-9525
Publisher:
Rockefeller University PressCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Cited By (4)

Isolation of Ribosomes from Cysts of Entamoeba Invadens journal January 1968
The genome and transcriptome of the enteric parasite Entamoeba invadens, a model for encystation journal January 2013
Advances in Entamoeba histolytica Biology Through Transcriptomic Analysis journal August 2019
The morphology, formation and development of cysts of Entamoeba journal February 1969

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES