Entamoeba histolytica-secreted products degrade colonic mucin oligosaccharides.
Degradation of the mucus layer by Entamoeba histolytica is a prerequisite for invasion of the colonic mucosa. In this study, we demonstrate that amoeba-secreted products degrade (3)H-labeled and native colonic mucin oligosaccharides independently of proteolytic activity. We conclude that E. histolytica degrades mucin oligosaccharides, which may facilitate parasite invasion of the colon.
Moncada
Darcy
D
Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, 21,111 Lakeshore Road, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, Canada H9X 3V9.
Keller
Kathy
K
Chadee
Kris
K
D000818:Animals; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D009077:Mucins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000378:metabolism*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D011817:Rabbits
D009077:Mucins; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D015800:Protozoan Proteins