Korean J Parasitol.  2012 Dec;50(4):361-364.

Short-Cut Pathway to Synthesize Cellulose of Encysting Acanthamoeba

• Moon EK
• Kong HH

Abstract

The mature cyst of Acanthamoeba is highly resistant to various antibiotics and therapeutic agents. Cyst wall of Acanthamoeba are composed of cellulose, acid-resistant proteins, lipids, and unidentified materials. Because cellulose is one of the primary components of the inner cyst wall, cellulose synthesis is essential to the process of cyst formation in Acanthamoeba. In this study, we hypothesized the key and short-step process in synthesis of cellulose from glycogen in encysting Acanthamoeba castellanii, and confirmed it by comparing the expression pattern of enzymes involving glycogenolysis and cellulose synthesis. The genes of 3 enzymes, glycogen phosphorylase, UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, and cellulose synthase, which are involved in the cellulose synthesis, were expressed high at the 1st and 2nd day of encystation. However, the phosphoglucomutase that facilitates the interconversion of glucose 1-phosphate and glucose 6-phosphate expressed low during encystation. This report identified the short-cut pathway of cellulose synthesis required for construction of the cyst wall during the encystation process in Acanthamoeba. This study provides important information to understand cyst wall formation in encysting Acanthamoeba.

Keyword

Acanthamoeba castellanii; encystation; cyst wall; cellulose synthesis

MeSH Terms

Acanthamoeba castellanii/*enzymology/genetics/growth & development
Amebiasis/*parasitology
Cell Wall/*metabolism
Cellulose/*biosynthesis/genetics
Glucosyltransferases/genetics/metabolism
Glycogen Phosphorylase/genetics/metabolism
Protozoan Proteins/genetics/*metabolism
UTP-Glucose-1-Phosphate Uridylyltransferase/genetics/metabolism
Cellulose
Glucosyltransferases
Glycogen Phosphorylase
Protozoan Proteins
UTP-Glucose-1-Phosphate Uridylyltransferase