title: The endocytic pathway in Entamoeba histolytica.
abstract: We studied the endocytic pathway of Entamoeba histolytica using (a) confocal laser scanning microscopy to observe living cells labeled with fluorescent probes and (b) transmission electron microscopy of cells incubated in the presence of gold-labeled proteins or in a cytochemical medium designed for the localization of acid phosphatase activity. Images of acridine-orange-labeled cells showed that most of the intracellular vacuoles were acidic and were also labeled with Lucifer yellow, a fluorescent dye widely used for labeling of compartments of the endocytic pathway. A similar labeling pattern was observed when the cells were incubated in the present of fluorescein-labeled bovine albumin. However, no labeling was observed when fluorescein-labeled transferrin was used. Gold-labeled proteins (albumin, transferrin, horseradish peroxidase, and lactoferrin) were used for further characterization of the endocytic pathway. With the exception of transferrin, all the proteins bound to the protozoan surface and were subsequently internalized, appearing in small peripheral vesicles and some tubular structures. The ingested molecules accumulated in large vesicles located in the more central portion of the cell, which also presented acid phosphatase activity.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio De Janeiro, Ilha do Fundão, Brazil.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Batista
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: de Menezes Feitosa
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: de Souza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003470:Culture Media; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000502:physiology*; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000502:physiology*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000378:metabolism; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D007781:Lactoferrin