Editing Entamoeba (section)

==Meiosis==

In sexually reproducing [[eukaryote]]s, [[homologous recombination]] (HR) ordinarily occurs during [[meiosis]].  The meiosis-specific [[recombinase]], [[DMC1 (gene)|Dmc1]], is required for efficient meiotic HR, and Dmc1 is expressed in ''E. histolytica''.<ref name=Kelso>{{cite journal |vauthors=Kelso AA, Say AF, Sharma D, Ledford LL, Turchick A, Saski CA, King AV, Attaway CC, Temesvari LA, Sehorn MG |title=Entamoeba histolytica Dmc1 Catalyzes Homologous DNA Pairing and Strand Exchange That Is Stimulated by Calcium and Hop2-Mnd1 |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=10 |issue=9 |pages=e0139399 |year=2015 |pmid=26422142 |pmc=4589404 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0139399 |bibcode=2015PLoSO..1039399K |doi-access=free }}</ref>  The purified Dmc1 from ''E. histolytica'' forms [[Synapsis|presynaptic]] filaments and catalyzes [[Adenosine triphosphate|ATP]]-dependent [[Homologous recombination|homologous DNA pairing]] and DNA strand exchange over at least several thousand [[base pair]]s.<ref name=Kelso />  The DNA pairing and strand exchange reactions are enhanced by the eukaryotic meiosis-specific recombination accessory factor (heterodimer) Hop2-Mnd1.<ref name=Kelso />  These processes are central to meiotic recombination, suggesting that ''E. histolytica'' undergoes meiosis.<ref name=Kelso />

Studies of  ''E. invadens'' found that, during the conversion from the [[Ploidy|tetraploid]] uninucleate [[Apicomplexan life cycle#Glossary of cell types|trophozoite]] to the tetranucleate cyst, [[homologous recombination]] is enhanced.<ref name=Singh>{{cite journal |vauthors=Singh N, Bhattacharya A, Bhattacharya S |title=Homologous recombination occurs in Entamoeba and is enhanced during growth stress and stage conversion |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=8 |issue=9 |pages=e74465 |year=2013 |pmid=24098652 |pmc=3787063 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0074465 |bibcode=2013PLoSO...874465S |doi-access=free }}</ref>  Expression of genes with functions related to the major steps of meiotic recombination also increased during encystations.<ref name=Singh />  These findings in ''E. invadens'', combined with evidence from studies of  ''E. histolytica'' indicate the presence of meiosis in the ''Entamoeba''.