title: Protein kinase C signaling molecules regulate encystation of Acanthamoeba.
abstract: Protein kinase C (PKC) is involved in receptor desensitization, membrane biogenesis, transcription regulation, immune response mediation, and cell growth regulation. Results of ESTs analysis and microarray analysis of Acanthamoeba cysts revealed high expression of PKC during encystation of Acanthamoeba. PKC inhibitor, chelerythrine chloride, inhibited cyst maturation of Acanthamoeba. Through domain search analysis, we found 27 types of PKC genes from Acanthamoeba ESTs (AcPKC1-AcPKC27), all of which were defined as atypical PKC isoforms. Results of fluorescence microscopic analysis showed the localization of AcPKC in cell membranes or nuclear membranes during encystation. siRNA against AcPKC reduced the encystation efficiency of Acanthamoeba. These AcPKC may be involved in several signal transduction pathways, especially during encystation of Acanthamoeba.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Joong-gu, Taegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Kyung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Dong-Il
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Yeonchul
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Hyun-Hee
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kong
mesh_terms: D048248:Acanthamoeba castellanii / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D053119:Benzophenanthridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D020868:Gene Silencing; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013110:Sphingosine / Q000494:pharmacology; D019311:Staurosporine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D053119:Benzophenanthridines; D007527:Isoenzymes; C016299:chelerythrine; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D019311:Staurosporine; D013110:Sphingosine