Actin associated proteins of Entamoeba histolytica.

Treatment of E. histolytica HM1-IMSS trophozoite extracts to conditions that produce gels of actin and associated cytoskeletal proteins in other ameboid cells caused formation of macroscopic actin rich complexes (ARCs). The one-dimensional PAGE protein profile of this ARC was similar to those of Dictyostelium and Acanthamoeba actin gels. Formation of the E. histolytica ARCs was enhanced by added lipids. In addition to actin, the ARC was enriched with proteins that showed cross-reactivity to antibodies to alpha-actinin and the 50K actin binding protein (elongation factor 1 alpha) from Dictyostelium. E. histolytica ARCs appear to be comprised of a number of actin cytoskeleton proteins and provide a source for their isolation and characterization.