Large scale generation and analysis of the Acanthamoeba genome sequence may have the answer. Acting as a viral host, at some point in past, mutual gene transfers could have implanted a few proto-oncogene in Acanthamoeba genome, but could they be of survival significance?
oncogenes are growth and proliferation related genes, at least in mammalians
Thanks Thomas, This eukaryote behaves alike I guess.
Best wishes,
Mannan
Cancer by definition is uncontrolled growth. Answer to your is highly probably yes as many sea (lower) animals (the cnidarian, Nematostella vectensis for example) do exhibit cancerous traits. You can Google Prof J Sinkovics', an authority in the field, work.
If the proto-oncogene has the exact polynucleotide sequence in the Acanthamoeba as oncogenes in the mammalian cells, it can probably lead to cause cell proliferation provided all enabling conditions for its cell proliferation activity are met. Even where all such enabling conditions are met, there is a possibility that it may not cause cell proliferation in Acanthamoeba if there is at least another gene that can counteract its activity. If with time it experiences any form of mutation that alters or silences its activity, it may also not be capable of causing cell proliferation in Acanthamoeba. In a nutshell, if the gene in this organism can express its activity, it can be of survival significance.
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