Differential expression of cruzipain- and gp63-like molecules in the phytoflagellate trypanosomatid Phytomonas serpens induced by exogenous proteins

► Phytomonas serpens synthesizes proteases related to gp63 and cruzipain. ► Cruzipain was differentially modulated in P. serpens under starving conditions. ► Cruzipain expression was controlled by exogenous proteins. ► P. serpens can be used as a trypanosomatid model to study basic metabolic processes.