RNA sequencing reveals widespread transcription of natural antisense RNAs in Entamoebidae species

Entamoeba is a genus of Amoebozoa, including the intestinal colonizing pathogenic species Entamoeba histolytica. To understand the basis of gene regulation in E. histolytica from an evolutionary perspective, we have profiled the transcriptomes of its closely related species E. dispar, E. moshkovskii and E. invadens. Interestingly, we observed the enrichment of antisense transcription in genes involving in several processes that are common to species infecting the human intestine, e.g. metabolism of phospholipids. These results suggested a potentially conserved and compact gene regulatory system in Entamoeba.