Characterization of a subtilisin-like protease with apical localization from microsporidian Nosema bombycis

The microsporidian Nosema bombycis is the pathogen causing pébrine leading to heavy economic loss in sericulture. Little is known of the proteases of microsporidia that are important for both parasite development and pathogenesis. Here we identified a subtilisin-like serine protease NbSLP1 which contains an inhibitor_I9 and a peptidase_S8 domain. Three dimensional modeling of the catalytic domain of the NbSLP1 exhibited a typical 3-layer sandwich structure with S1 pocket substituted by Y359. Phylogenetic analysis confirms that subtilisin-like serine proteases of microsporidia fall into two clades: SLP1 and SLP2, suggesting the initial subtilisin gene duplication events preceded microsporidia speciation. Furthermore, transcripts of Nbslp1 were detected in the midgut of Bombyx mori infection by N. bombycis by RT-PCR. Antibodies against NbSLP1 recognized both the precursor and mature enzyme by 2D Western blotting. Besides, indirect immunofluorescence assay revealed that the NbSLP1 is mainly localized at the two poles of spore which make the spore look like “safety pins”. Remarkably, the mature protease is only detected in the apical region of the spore after germination. These studies demonstrate that NbSLP1 is a conserved subtilisin protease in microsporidia and suggest that NbSLP1 play a significant role in polar tube extrusion process.

Highlights► Comparative analysis of subtilisin-like proteases (SLPs) in microsporidia. ► We examine expression forms of NbSLP1 in Nosema bombycis spores. ► We report the distribution of NbSLP1 in both germinated and ungerminated spores.