Stress-induced pseudocyst formation--a newly identified mechanism of protection against organic solvents in acanthamoebae of the T4 genotype
Language English Country Germany Media print-electronic
Document type Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PubMed
20650683
DOI
10.1016/j.protis.2010.03.006
PII: S1434-4610(10)00049-0
Knihovny.cz E-resources
- MeSH
- Acanthamoeba drug effects physiology ultrastructure MeSH
- Cell Wall physiology ultrastructure MeSH
- Dimethyl Sulfoxide pharmacology MeSH
- Ethanol pharmacology MeSH
- Adaptation, Physiological * MeSH
- Stress, Physiological * MeSH
- Genotype MeSH
- Methanol pharmacology MeSH
- Solvents MeSH
- Gene Expression Profiling MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Dimethyl Sulfoxide MeSH
- Ethanol MeSH
- Methanol MeSH
- Solvents MeSH
Differentiation into highly resistant double-walled cysts is a major mechanism allowing amphizoic acanthamoebae to survive under long-lasting, unfavourable environmental conditions. We found that relatively low concentrations of methanol, acetone or DMSO stimulate promptAcanthamoebadifferentiation into a rounded cyst-like stage with a single envelope. To address whether this rapid response differs from the encystment, time-dependent changes in cell surface characteristics and cyst-specific gene expression were monitored in encystating cells and cells differentiating under methanol treatment using microscopic, lectin-binding, PCR and resistance studies. In contrast to the encystment: (1) a single-layered amorphous mannose/glucose coat was the only envelope assembled on the surface of the solvent-treated cells, (2) the cyst-specific protein (CSP21) was not expressed, (3) the coat did not protect cells against acidic pH and (4) in solvent-free encystment medium, the coated cells did not assemble the double-layered wall, thus indicating that these cells were not immature cysts. These findings lead us to specify a terminal stage of rapidAcanthamoebadifferentiation elicited by acute organic solvent stress as "pseudocyst", and to suggest that encystation and pseudocyst formation are distinct stress responses. Moreover, the possibility exists that pseudocysts might form in response to certain contact lens solutions thus increasing resistance of acanthamoebae to disinfecting agents.
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