Identification of vegetative proteins for a two-dimensional protein index of Bacillus subtilis

1 Universität Osnabrük, Abteilung für Mikrobiologie, 49076 Osnabrück, Germany 2 Institut für Mikrobiologie und Molekularbiologie, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald, 17487 Greifswald, Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-StraBe 15, Germany ABSTRACT Twenty-three of the most prominent spots which are visible on two-dimensional (2-D) protein gels of Bacillus subtilis crude extracts were selected as marker spots for the construction of a 2-D protein index. N-terminal sequencing of the corresponding proteins resulted in the identification of enzymes involved in glycolysis, TCA cycle, pentose phosphate cycle, amino acid metabolism, nucleotide biosynthesis and translation. Using computer analysis of the 2-D protein gels, most of these metabolic enzymes were found to be synthesized at a reduced rate after different stresses and glucose starvation. Such an approach permits a rapid and global evaluation of the regulation of different branches of metabolism in response to various physiological conditions. * Author for correspondence: Michael Hecker. Tel: + 49 3834 864201. Fax: + 49 3834 864202. Keywords: two-dimensional protein index, glucose limitation, heat shock, salt stress, vegetative proteins, glycolytic enzymes