Details for: CL0009042

Cell ID: CL0009042

Cell Name: enteroendocrine cell of colon

Description: An enteroendocrine cell that is located in the colon.

Synonyms: colon enteroendocrine cell

Selected Context(s): Overall

Gene Significance Landscape

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Score:
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Genes

Contexts:

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

Significant Genes List

Genes with the highest and lowest Percentile Rank Scores (PRS) for enteroendocrine cell of colon 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 enteroendocrine cell of colon. 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 enteroendocrine cell of colon. 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 enteroendocrine cell of colon. 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:  enteroendocrine cell of colon (CL0009042)

 Legend
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 [enteroendocrine cell of colon](/details-cell/CL0009042) is a specialized hormone-secreting cell type located within the colonic epithelium. Based on its gene significance profile, this cell is characterized by an exceptionally high and specific expression of genes involved in mitochondrial bioenergetics. The **Overall** transcriptional signature is dominated by components of the electron transport chain and ATP synthesis, suggesting that a state of intense metabolic activity is a core, defining feature of this cell's identity, likely fueling the synthesis and secretion of gut hormones. ## Key Characteristics and Function Analysis of top marker genes, ranked by expression specificity (CSI Z-score), reveals a functional profile centered on robust energy production and protein synthesis. * **Mitochondrial Bioenergetics and High Metabolic Rate:** The most striking characteristic is the overwhelming signature of genes related to oxidative phosphorylation. This includes numerous subunits of Complex IV (Cytochrome c oxidase, e.g., [COX6C](/details-gene/1345), [COX2](/details-gene/4513), [COX1](/details-gene/4512)), Complex I (NADH dehydrogenase, e.g., [ND1](/details-gene/4535), [ND4](/details-gene/4538), [ND3](/details-gene/4537)), Complex III ([CYTB](/details-gene/4519), [UQCRB](/details-gene/7381)), and Complex V (ATP synthase, e.g., [ATP5F1E](/details-gene/514), [ATP5MG](/details-gene/10632)). The high specificity of these genes suggests that the cell's primary function is energetically demanding and that this high metabolic state is a key feature distinguishing it from surrounding cell types. The elevated significance of the mitochondrial transporter [SLC25A6](/details-gene/293) further supports a high flux of ADP/ATP to and from the mitochondria. * **Protein Synthesis and Maintenance:** The high significance of genes like [TPT1](/details-gene/7178) (Translationally Controlled Tumor Protein) and [UBB](/details-gene/7314) (Polyubiquitin-B) is consistent with a high capacity for protein synthesis and turnover, a necessary function for a cell specializing in producing and secreting peptide hormones. * **Iron Homeostasis:** The prominent expression of both ferritin heavy and light chain genes ([FTH1](/details-gene/2495) and [FTL](/details-gene/2512)) points to a crucial role for iron management. This is tightly linked to the cell's metabolic activity, as iron is an essential cofactor for the heme groups in cytochromes of the electron transport chain. * **Refined Cellular Identity:** The anti-marker profile helps to define what this cell is not. The very low significance of the muscle-specific gene [TNNC2](/details-gene/7125) confirms its non-mesenchymal, epithelial lineage. Furthermore, low significance scores for developmental transcription factors such as [HOXA10](/details-gene/3206) and [HOXA7](/details-gene/3204) are consistent with a terminally differentiated cell type rather than a progenitor or stem cell. ## Clinical Significance and Contextual Roles **Overall**, the gene expression profile highlights the [enteroendocrine cell of colon](/details-cell/CL0009042) as a metabolic hub, making it potentially vulnerable to metabolic pathologies. The profound dependence on mitochondrial function suggests that dysfunction in these cells could be implicated in conditions associated with mitochondrial stress or metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes, where gut hormone signaling is known to be dysregulated. The strong expression of mitochondrial genes is consistent with findings that link increased mitochondrial RNA expression to the differentiation of human colonic adenocarcinoma cells, as observed in studies involving the [ND4](/details-gene/4538) gene ([Link](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1377597/)). This suggests that the metabolic state is not only critical for function but also for maintaining the differentiated identity of these cells, a process that may be subverted in carcinogenesis. The cell's reliance on iron, highlighted by high [FTH1](/details-gene/2495) and [FTL](/details-gene/2512) expression, may also make it a key player in disorders of iron metabolism or inflammatory conditions like IBD, where both iron availability and cellular metabolism are altered. ## Potential Mechanisms and Research Directions 1. **Hypothesis:** The defining transcriptional signature of the [enteroendocrine cell of colon](/details-cell/CL0009042) is an exceptionally high rate of oxidative phosphorylation. This metabolic state is not merely a housekeeping function but a primary requirement to fuel the synthesis and acute secretion of peptide hormones in response to luminal and microbial signals. This intense bioenergetic activity may directly regulate the specific profile of hormones produced. * **Surprising Findings:** It is remarkable that the most specific markers for this secretory cell are not hormone-encoding genes themselves, but rather the fundamental machinery for energy production. This suggests that the metabolic phenotype is a more stable and unique identifier at the transcript level than the expression of any single hormone, which may be more dynamically regulated or shared across different enteroendocrine subtypes. * **Testable Questions:** How does stimulation with known secretagogues (e.g., short-chain fatty acids) acutely alter mitochondrial respiration rates and the expression of key respiratory complex components like [COX2](/details-gene/4513) or [ND1](/details-gene/4535) in isolated colonic enteroendocrine cells or organoid-derived cultures? 2. **Hypothesis:** Iron homeostasis, mediated by high levels of ferritin ([FTH1](/details-gene/2495) and [FTL](/details-gene/2512)), acts as a critical regulatory node for the function and viability of the [enteroendocrine cell of colon](/details-cell/CL0009042). Perturbations in cellular iron availability, as seen in inflammatory bowel disease or iron-deficiency anemia, could directly impair mitochondrial bioenergetics, leading to blunted hormone secretion and contributing to gut dysmotility and metabolic dysregulation. * **Surprising Findings:** While ferritin is ubiquitously expressed, its ranking as a highly specific marker alongside core mitochondrial components is unexpected. This implies that the coupling between iron storage and energy production is a uniquely prominent and defining feature of this cell's biology, rather than a generic cellular process. * **Testable Questions:** Does conditional knockout of [FTH1](/details-gene/2495) in intestinal epithelial cells of a mouse model lead to a specific reduction in the number or functional capacity of [enteroendocrine cell of colon](/details-cell/CL0009042), and can this phenotype be rescued by dietary iron supplementation?