Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2025

Analysis of the Epithelial Damage Produced by Entamoeba histolytica Infection
Published on: June 12, 2014
Links between cholesteryl sulfate-dependent and -independent processes in the morphological and physiological changes
Fumika Mi-Ichi1, Shinjiro Hamano2, Hiroki Yoshida3
1Central Laboratory, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan; Division of Molecular and Cellular Immunoscience, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga 849-8501, Japan; The Joint Research Center on Tropical Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
Abstract:
The protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica causes amoebiasis, a global public health problem. Amoebiasis is solely transmitted by cysts that are produced from proliferative trophozoites by encystation in the large intestine of humans. During encystation, various metabolites, pathways, and cascades sequentially orchestrate the morphological and physiological changes required to produce cysts. Cholesteryl sulfate (CS) has recently been revealed to be among the key molecules that control the morphological and physiological changes of encystation by exerting pleiotropic effects. CS promotes the rounding of encysting Entamoeba cells and maintains this spherical morphology as encysting cells are surrounded by the cyst wall, a prerequisite for resistance against environmental stresses. CS is also involved in the development of membrane impermeability, another prerequisite for resistance. The initiation of cyst wall formation is, however, CS-independent. Here, we overview CS-dependent and -independent processes during encystation and discuss their functional linkage. We also discuss a potential transcriptional cascade that controls the processes necessary to produce dormant Entamoeba cysts.
Related Concept Videos
Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER
A large chunk of any biological membrane is composed of phospholipids. These lipids have a heterogeneous distribution across different subcellular organelles and even between...
Synthesis of Phosphatidylcholine in the ER Membrane
The major components of all eukaryotic cell...
Clathrin Coated Vesicles
Vesicular Tubular Clusters
With the help of motor proteins such...
GPI Anchoring of Proteins in the ER Membrane
GPI-anchor structure
A sequence of 11 enzymatic reactions results in the synthesis of the complete GPI anchor consisting of a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic portion. The hydrophobic portion comprises phosphatidylinositol, while the hydrophilic part comprises polar groups like phosphoethanolamine,...
Role of ER in the Secretory Pathway
Components of the secretory pathway
About a third of proteins synthesized in the cell are sorted via the secretory route. They shuffle between different compartments in membrane-bound vesicles until they reach their final destination. The main intracellular compartments involved...

