Chitin synthetase in encysting Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba invadens

Conference · Fri May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1987 · Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6179847

Das, S; Gillin, F D

Giardia lamblia (Gl) and Entamoeba invadens (Ei) are protozoan parasites with two morphologic stages in their life cycles. Motile trophozoites colonize the intestine of humans and reptiles respectively. Water resistant cysts, which can survive outside the host, transmit infection. In vitro cyst formation of Ei from trophozoites has been reported, and the authors have recently induced in vitro encystation of Gl. Although the cyst walls of both parasites contain chitin, it synthesis by encysting trophozoites has not been reported. The authors now show that encystation conditions greatly increase chitin synthetase (CS) specific activity (incorporation of /sup 3/H GlcNAc from UDP-GlcNAc into TCA-or alcohol-precipitable material). Extracts of encysting Gl incorporated 3.6 nmol/mg protein in 5 hr compared to < 0.005 in controls. Extracts of encysting Fi incorporated 4.8 n mol/mg protein, compared to 1.7 in the control. CS activity of both parasites requires preformed chitin. The Gl enzyme requires a reducing agent, is inhibited by digitonin and the CS inhibitors, polyoxin D and Nikkomycin, but not by tunicamycin. The product is digested by chitinase. Ei enzyme does not require a reducing agent and is stimulated by 1 mg/ml digitonin, but inhibited by higher concentrations. These studies demonstrate CS enzymes which may play important roles in encystation of Gl and Ei.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, San Diego
• OSTI ID: 6179847
• Report Number(s): CONF-870644-
• Journal Information: Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States), Journal Name: Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States) Vol. 46:6; ISSN FEPRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550201* -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AMINES
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
BIOSYNTHESIS
CARBOHYDRATES
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CELL WALL
CHITIN
ENZYME ACTIVITY
ENZYMES
FUNCTIONS
INVERTEBRATES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LIFE CYCLE
LIGASES
MICROORGANISMS
MUCOPOLYSACCHARIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARASITES
POLYSACCHARIDES
PROTOZOA
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
SACCHARIDES
SYNTHESIS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS