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.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Encystment and Excystment Processes in Acanthamoeba castellanii: An Emphasis on Cellulose Involvement Mathew Choaji, Ascel Samba-Louaka, Zineb Fechtali-Moute, Willy Aucher, Sébastien Pomel Pathogens.2025; 14(3): 268. CrossRef
Inhibition of GABA metabolism by β-lactam antibiotics affects encystation in Acanthamoeba Chih-Ming Tsai, Yao-Tsung Chang, Yu-Jen Wang, Chun-Hsien Chen, Chuan-Yi Wang, Jian-Ming Huang Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy.2025; 193: 118841. CrossRef
Oxidase enzyme genes are differentially expressed during Acanthamoeba castellanii encystment Christian Q. Scheckhuber, Rebeca Damián Ferrara, Jesús Gómez-Montalvo, Sutherland K. Maciver, Alvaro de Obeso Fernández del Valle Parasitology Research.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Biological characteristics and pathogenicity of Acanthamoeba Yuehua Wang, Linzhe Jiang, Yitong Zhao, Xiaohong Ju, Le Wang, Liang Jin, Ryan D. Fine, Mingguang Li Frontiers in Microbiology.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Curcumin effect on Acanthamoeba triangularis encystation under nutrient starvation Rachasak Boonhok, Suthinee Sangkanu, Suganya Phumjan, Ramita Jongboonjua, Nawarat Sangnopparat, Pattamaporn Kwankaew, Aman Tedasen, Chooi Ling Lim, Maria de Lourdes Pereira, Mohammed Rahmatullah, Polrat Wilairatana, Christophe Wiart, Karma G. Dolma, Alok PeerJ.2022; 10: e13657. CrossRef
Stimulation of Acanthamoeba castellanii excystment by enzyme treatment and consequences on trophozoite growth Zineb Fechtali-Moute, Philippe M. Loiseau, Sébastien Pomel Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Mechanisms of Effector-Mediated Immunity Revealed by the Accidental Human Pathogen Legionella pneumophila Tshegofatso Ngwaga, Deepika Chauhan, Stephanie R. Shames Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology.2021;[Epub] CrossRef
Peganum harmala Extract Has Antiamoebic Activity to Acanthamoeba triangularis Trophozoites and Changes Expression of Autophagy-Related Genes Rachasak Boonhok, Suthinee Sangkanu, Julalak Chuprom, Mayuna Srisuphanunt, Roghayeh Norouzi, Abolghasem Siyadatpanah, Farzaneh Mirzaei, Watcharapong Mitsuwan, Sueptrakool Wisessombat, Maria de Lourdes Pereira, Mohammed Rahmatullah, Polrat Wilairatana, Chr Pathogens.2021; 10(7): 842. CrossRef
Evolution and function of carbohydrate reserve biosynthesis in parasitic protists Julie E. Ralton, M. Fleur Sernee, Malcolm J. McConville Trends in Parasitology.2021; 37(11): 988. CrossRef
The role of the Acanthamoeba castellanii Sir2-like protein in the growth and encystation of Acanthamoeba So-Young Joo, Ja Moon Aung, Minsang Shin, Eun-Kyung Moon, Hyun-Hee Kong, Youn-Kyoung Goo, Dong-Il Chung, Yeonchul Hong Parasites & Vectors.2020;[Epub] CrossRef
Encystation: the most prevalent and underinvestigated differentiation pathway of eukaryotes Pauline Schaap, Christina Schilde Microbiology.2018; 164(5): 727. CrossRef
Down-Regulation of Cellulose Synthase Inhibits the Formation of Endocysts in Acanthamoeba Eun-Kyung Moon, Yeonchul Hong, Dong-Il Chung, Youn-Kyoung Goo, Hyun-Hee Kong The Korean Journal of Parasitology.2014; 52(2): 131. CrossRef
First
Prev
