title: The calcium binding protein EhCaBP6 is a microtubular-end binding protein in Entamoeba histolytica.
abstract: The genome of Entamoeba histolytica encodes several calcium binding proteins and those characterized thus far have been shown to participate predominantly in phagocytosis and endocytosis. Our study showed that EhCaBP6 has two EF-hand domains EFI and EFIII; it can bind Ca(2+) in vitro and undergoes conformational transition on binding Ca(2+) suggesting that it can serve as a calcium signal sensor. EhCaBP6 is localized in the nucleus, cytoplasm and plasma membrane and is sensitive to heat stress. Unlike other Ca(2+) binding proteins that have been studied in E. histolytica, EhCaBP6 is found at microtubule ends and at the intercellular bridge with the microtubules during cytokinesis. Furthermore, increased expression of EhCaBP6 was correlated with a significant increase in the number of microtubular structures suggesting that this protein may regulate chromosome segregation and cytokinesis in E. histolytica.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Bose Institute, P-1/12, C. I. T. Scheme VII-M, Kolkata, 700 054, India.
authors.forename: Jaspreet Singh
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Grewal
authors.forename: Narendra
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Padhan
authors.forename: Saima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aslam
authors.forename: Alok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
authors.forename: Anuradha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lohia
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000235:genetics*; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020090:Chromosome Segregation / Q000235:genetics; D048749:Cytokinesis / Q000235:genetics; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000235:genetics; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000235:genetics*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism; D008938:Mitosis / Q000235:genetics; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000235:genetics; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000235:genetics; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D002118:Calcium