title: Entamoeba Clone-Recognition Experiments: Morphometrics, Aggregative Behavior, and Cell-Signaling Characterization.
abstract: Studies on clone- and kin-discrimination in protists have proliferated during the past decade. We report clone-recognition experiments in seven Entamoeba lineages (E. invadens IP-1, E. invadens VK-1:NS, E. terrapinae, E. moshkovskii Laredo, E. moshkovskii Snake, E. histolytica HM-1:IMSS and E. dispar). First, we characterized morphometrically each clone (length, width, and cell-surface area) and documented how they differed statistically from one another (as per single-variable or canonical-discriminant analyses). Second, we demonstrated that amebas themselves could discriminate self (clone) from different (themselves vs. other clones). In mix-cell-line cultures between closely-related (E. invadens IP-1 vs. E. invadens VK-1:NS) or distant-phylogenetic clones (E. terrapinae vs. E. moshkovskii Laredo), amebas consistently aggregated with same-clone members. Third, we identified six putative cell-signals secreted by the amebas (RasGap/Ankyrin, coronin-WD40, actin, protein kinases, heat shock 70, and ubiquitin) and which known functions in Entamoeba spp. included: cell proliferation, cell adhesion, cell movement, and stress-induced encystation. To our knowledge, this is the first multi-clone characterization of Entamoeba spp. morphometrics, aggregative behavior, and cell-signaling secretion in the context of clone-recognition. Protists allow us to study cell-cell recognition from ecological and evolutionary perspectives. Modern protistan lineages can be central to studies about the origins and evolution of multicellularity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island, USA.|New England Center for the Public Understanding of Science, Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island, USA.
authors.forename: Avelina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Espinosa
authors.affiliation: New England Center for the Public Understanding of Science, Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island, USA.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paz-Y-Miño-C
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island, USA.
authors.forename: Meagan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hackey
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island, USA.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rutherford
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017487:Ankyrins / Q000378:metabolism; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000502:physiology; D004747:Entamoeba / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D017487:Ankyrins; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D011494:Protein Kinases
keywords: Active cell death; Entamoeba proliferation activating factors; cell migration; chemical cues; inclusive fitness; social ameba