The Intestinal Protozoan ParasiteEntamoeba histolyticaContains 20 Cysteine Protease Genes, of Which Only a Small Subset Is Expressed during In Vitro Cultivation

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Abstract
Cysteine proteases are known to be important pathogenicity factors of the protozoan parasiteEntamoeba histolytica. So far, a total of eight genes coding for cysteine proteases have been identified inE. histolytica, two of which are absent in the closely related nonpathogenic speciesE. dispar.However, present knowledge is restricted to enzymes expressed during in vitro cultivation of the parasite, which might represent only a subset of the entire repertoire. Taking advantage of the currentE. histolyticagenome-sequencing efforts, we analyzed databases containing more than 99% of all ameba gene sequences for the presence of cysteine protease genes. A total of 20 full-length genes was identified (including all eight genes previously reported), which show 10 to 86% sequence identity. The various genes obviously originated from two separate ancestors since they form two distinct clades. Despite cathepsin B-like substrate specificities, all of the ameba polypeptides are structurally related to cathepsin L-like enzymes. None of the previously described enzymes but 7 of the 12 newly identified proteins are unique compared to cathepsins of higher eukaryotes in that they are predicted to have transmembrane or glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor attachment domains. Southern blot analysis revealed that orthologous sequences for all of the newly identified proteases are present inE. dispar.Interestingly, the majority of the various cysteine protease genes are not expressed inE. histolyticaorE. dispartrophozoites during in vitro cultivation. Therefore, it is likely that at least some of these enzymes are required for infection of the human host and/or for completion of the parasite life cycle.