Details for: CL0002071

Cell ID: CL0002071

Cell Name: enterocyte of epithelium of large intestine

Description: A columnar absorptive epithelial cell found in the epithelium of large intestine, specialized for water and electrolyte absorption. Unlike small intestinal enterocytes, those in the large intestine have fewer apical microvilli.

Synonyms: columnar cell of the colon, columnar cell, vacuolar absorptive cell

Selected Context(s): Overall

Gene Significance Landscape

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Genes

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Cell Significance Index (CSI) is uniquely calculated to reveal cell-specific gene markers. More info here

Image representation

Depiction of enterocyte of epithelium of large intestine
Courtesy of SwissBioPics

Significant Genes List

Genes with the highest and lowest Percentile Rank Scores (PRS) for enterocyte of epithelium of large intestine within the selected context(s).

Gene ID: A unique numerical identifier for this specific gene.
Symbol: Shortened abbreviation or name that represents this gene.
Ensembl Gene ID: A unique identifier assigned by Ensembl for genomic data mapping.
CSI Score: A combined effect size and statistical significance measure for enterocyte of epithelium of large intestine. Higher scores indicate a stronger, more significant difference in expression.
(Previously described as "Fold Change", but now represents Cliff's Delta × –log10(p).)

Gene ID: A unique numerical identifier for this specific gene.
Symbol: Shortened abbreviation or name that represents this gene.
Ensembl Gene ID: A unique identifier assigned by Ensembl for genomic data mapping.
CSI Score: A combined effect size and statistical significance measure for enterocyte of epithelium of large intestine. Higher scores indicate a stronger, more significant difference in expression.
Average CSI: csi sum / gene count
Cell network configuration

This network visualizes key genes for enterocyte of epithelium of large intestine. It primarily includes:
1. Top genes highly significant for this cell (Num. Top Cell Genes - based on the 'Min. CSI' setting).
2. Any additional specific 'Context Genes' you add below.
The final network is a combined view. Choose an Interaction Source (pathways or protein interactions) and optionally compare CSI scores with a Baseline Cell Type.

Maximum number of selected genes.
Select a context for the baseline cell.
Select a context for the target cell.
Target Cell for CSI:  enterocyte of epithelium of large intestine (CL0002071)

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Nodes (Genes):
 Query Gene
Node size also reflects Target Cell CSI magnitude.
Node Color (Target Cell CSI in specific network):
 Very High
 High
 Medium
 Low
 Very Low
 N/A or Not Sig.
Edges (Interactions):
 STRING (Protein-Protein)
 ONTOLOGY (Shared Pathway)
 Colors vary by pathway category; default arrow applies.

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## Summary The [enterocyte of epithelium of large intestine](/details-cell/CL0002071), also known as a colonic absorptive cell, is a specialized columnar epithelial cell responsible for water and electrolyte absorption. The gene significance profile for this cell type is overwhelmingly dominated by components of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. This striking signature, highlighted by the exceptional specificity score (`csi_z`) for genes like [ATP6](/details-gene/4508) and [COX2](/details-gene/4513), suggests that its identity and primary function are intrinsically linked to an extraordinarily high capacity for aerobic respiration and energy production. ## Key Characteristics and Function **Overall**, the molecular profile of the [enterocyte of epithelium of large intestine](/details-cell/CL0002071) points towards a cell with exceptionally high metabolic activity, primarily centered on mitochondrial bioenergetics. * **Mitochondrial Bioenergetics:** The most defining characteristic is the profound enrichment for genes encoding subunits of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes. Nearly all of the top-ranking markers are components of this system, including mitochondrially-encoded genes such as [ATP6](/details-gene/4508), [COX2](/details-gene/4513), [ND1](/details-gene/4535), [ND2](/details-gene/4536), [ND5](/details-gene/4540), [CYTB](/details-gene/4519), [ND4](/details-gene/4538), and [COX1](/details-gene/4512), as well as nuclear-encoded subunits like [COX5B](/details-gene/1329), [COX6C](/details-gene/1345), [ATP5ME](/details-gene/521), and [COX4I1](/details-gene/1327). This consistent signature across multiple complexes underscores the central role of oxidative phosphorylation in providing the vast amounts of ATP required for the cell's primary function of active transport-driven water and electrolyte absorption. * **Metabolic and Ion Homeostasis:** Beyond direct energy production, the profile includes key genes for cellular metabolism and homeostasis. The high significance of [FTH1](/details-gene/2495), the ferritin heavy chain, is consistent with the high demand for iron as a cofactor in the heme groups of cytochrome proteins essential for the electron transport chain. The expression of [UGT2B17](/details-gene/7367), an enzyme involved in the glucuronidation of xenobiotics and steroids, highlights the enterocyte's role in detoxification and metabolic processing of luminal contents. Calcium signaling is implicated by the presence of [CALM1](/details-gene/801) (Calmodulin 1) and [S100A6](/details-gene/6277), suggesting that calcium-dependent pathways are critical for regulating its absorptive and metabolic functions. * **Gene Expression and Protein Quality Control:** A significant number of top markers are involved in RNA processing and protein turnover, including the RNA helicase [DDX5](/details-gene/1655) and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein [HNRNPA2B1](/details-gene/3181). Furthermore, the high specificity of polyubiquitin genes ([UBC](/details-gene/7316) and [UBB](/details-gene/7314)) points to a robust ubiquitin-proteasome system. This suggests that these metabolically active cells maintain a dynamic proteome, with active regulation of gene expression and efficient removal of damaged proteins to ensure cellular integrity. The lncRNA [NEAT1](/details-gene/283131), a core component of nuclear paraspeckles, further indicates a role for sophisticated post-transcriptional gene regulation. * **Anti-Markers:** The provided anti-marker list shows low specificity scores, suggesting that functions related to neuronal adhesion ([LRFN4](/details-gene/78999)), specific immune signaling pathways ([TICAM1](/details-gene/148022)), or certain transport mechanisms ([SLC28A2](/details-gene/9153)) are not defining features of this cell type relative to its dominant metabolic signature. ## Clinical Significance and Contextual Roles The intense metabolic profile of large intestine enterocytes positions them as a critical cell type in both gut homeostasis and pathology. The profound reliance on mitochondrial function suggests a potential vulnerability to mitochondrial dysfunction, a hallmark of many metabolic diseases and aging. One publication notes that the differentiation of human colonic adenocarcinoma cells correlates with increased mitochondrial RNA expression, specifically mentioning [ND4](/details-gene/4538), directly linking this metabolic signature to cancer biology ([Link](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1377597/)). Therefore, alterations in the expression of these top mitochondrial markers could be associated with the metabolic reprogramming observed in colorectal cancer. Furthermore, the significant expression of [UGT2B17](/details-gene/7367) implicates these cells in the first-pass metabolism of various drugs and endogenous compounds. Variation in the activity of this enzyme could influence drug efficacy and toxicity, as well as the local hormonal milieu of the colon. The expression of [FTH1](/details-gene/2495) highlights the cell's role in iron handling, suggesting its involvement in conditions of iron overload or deficiency which can significantly impact gut health and inflammation. ## Potential Mechanisms and Research Directions 1. **Hypothesis:** The extreme specificity of mitochondrially-encoded genes suggests that the regulation of mitochondrial genome replication and transcription, rather than just the import of nuclear-encoded proteins, is a primary determinant of the functional identity of [enterocytes of the large intestine](/details-cell/CL0002071). This high bioenergetic state is likely essential not only for ion transport but also for powering the maintenance of the colonic mucosal barrier. * **Surprising Findings:** It is remarkable that mitochondrially-encoded genes like [ATP6](/details-gene/4508) and [COX2](/details-gene/4513) show higher expression specificity than many canonical nuclear-encoded enterocyte markers. This implies that the sheer density and activity of mitochondria in these cells is a more unique feature than the specific transporters they express, when compared across a diverse cellular landscape. * **Testable Questions:** Does the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number per cell significantly differ between enterocytes of the large intestine and those of the small intestine? Furthermore, how does exposure to short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate, a primary energy source for colonocytes, impact mtDNA replication and the transcription of these specific mitochondrial genes? 2. **Hypothesis:** The co-enrichment of the paraspeckle-associated lncRNA [NEAT1](/details-gene/283131) and multiple RNA-binding proteins ([DDX5](/details-gene/1655), [HNRNPA2B1](/details-gene/3181)) points to a critical, underappreciated role for post-transcriptional gene regulation within the nucleus in managing the cell's response to the complex and dynamic colonic microenvironment. This regulatory hub may control the stability and translation of key mRNAs involved in metabolic adaptation and barrier function. * **Surprising Findings:** The identification of [NEAT1](/details-gene/283131) as a top marker is unexpected for a cell primarily defined by absorption. Paraspeckles are often associated with cellular stress and viral responses, suggesting that large intestine enterocytes may be constitutively primed for or actively managing signals that require this form of nuclear gene regulation. * **Testable Questions:** Using single-molecule FISH, can we visualize and quantify nuclear paraspeckles in colonic enterocytes in situ? Do these structures change in number or composition in response to inflammatory stimuli (e.g., LPS, TNF-alpha) or in tissue from patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and does knockdown of [NEAT1](/details-gene/283131) in colonoid models compromise their barrier integrity or metabolic function?