The heat shock response of Fusobacterium nucleatum

The heat-shock response of the oral Gram-negative bacterium Fusobacterium n ucleatum was examined. Different strains or F. nucleatum were grown at 37 d egreesC, 42 degreesC and 48 degreesC in the presence of [S-35]methionine. C ellular proteins synthesised after shifts to higher temperatures were analy sed by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. Strains ATCC 10953, F1, F3 and Fev1 ex hibited heat-shock response, and major proteins were observed at 60, 70 and 90 kDa, but increased protein synthesis was also observed for other protei ns. Immunoblot analysis. using a panel of antibodies directed to epitopes o n different known heat-shock proteins revealed cross-reactive proteins. ind icating homology between Escherichia coli. Mycobacterium leprae and F. nucl eatum heat shock proteins.