Cloning, site-directed mutagenesis and expression of cathepsin L-like cysteine protease from Uronema marinum (Ciliophora: Scuticociliatida)

A cysteine protease gene (ScCtL) homologous to the cathepsin L genes was isolated from a cDNA library of the scuticociliate parasite (Uronema marinum). To express the ScCtL recombinant protein in heterologous system, 17 codons were redesigned to conform to the standard eukaryotic genetic code using PCR-based site-directed mutagenesis. The synthetic U. marinum procathepsin L (proScCtL) was expressed at high levels in E. coli BL21 (DE3) with pGEX-4T-1 vector, and successfully refolded and purified into a functional and enzymatically active form. The optimal pH for protease activity was found to be 4.5. Like any typical cysteine protease, the enzyme was inhibited by E-64 and leupeptin. A dot-blot immunoassay was conducted in an attempt to determine the reaction abilities and sensitivity of the anti-proScCtL polyclonal antibody to the cytosol and to the membrane fraction from the scuticociliate. Our results suggest that the biochemical characteristics of the recombinant ciliate proScCtL protein are similar to that of the cathepsin L-like cysteine protease, and that the PCR-based site-direct mutated ciliate gene was successfully expressed in a biochemically active form.