ANALYSIS OF EXPRESSED SEQUENCE TAGS (ESTS) OF THE PARASITIC PROTOZOA ENTAMOEBA-HISTOLYTICA

A directional cDNA library constructed from mRNA of the trophozoite of Entamoeba histolytica HM-1:IMSS strain was used for the generation of expressed sequence tags (ESTs). From 5' ends of the distinct cDNA clo nes, 105 ESTs were obtained. Of these, 30 clones (29%) were previously known E. histolytica genes. Forty-five clones (42%) had matches with entries for other organisms in the databases. These new E. histolytica genes constituted a broad range of transcripts distributed among cyto plasmic structural and regulatory proteins, enzymes, nuclear and other proteins, and proteins of unknown function. Thirty clones (29%) had n o significant database matches and thus potentially represent E. histo lytica-specific genes. These data of E. histolytica genes identified b y nucleotide sequencing indicate the value of the adoption of genome s equencing strategies for the rapid increase in knowledge of organisms causing dysentery and liver abscess. (C) 1997 Academic Press.