Stress proteins in Listeria monocytogenes

The proteins induced by the different stress conditions in Listeria monocytogenes were analyzed by two-dimensional (2-D) electrophoresis with the aid of a computerized 2-D gel analysis system. The stress conditions imposed were pH 4, pH 10, 0.015% sodium, dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 0.03% sodium deoxycholate and 4% ethanol. As previously seen for heat shock and cold shock, more than half of the proteins normally synthesized by Listeria cells were repressed under these stress conditions. Conversely, the synthesis of a great number of proteins was increased and novel proteins appeared upon stress. Each stress factor induced a specific set of proteins. These stress proteins were characterized by their apparent molecular mass and isoelectric point. No universal stress proteins were found to be common to all the stresses studied, while some proteins were commonly induced by two or three stress conditions. The degree of dissimilarity in stress responses was best illustrated by the induction of only two proteins common to exposure to the two detergents SDS and sodium deoxycholate. This work together with that on heat and cold shock, constitutes the basic step for the identification of stress proteins in Listeria.