Identification of an iron-binding protein of the Dps family expressed by Streptococcus thermophilus.

Streptococcus thermophilus PB18 can grow between 20 degrees and 52 degrees C and is resistant to various stresses such as heat, acidic or cold shock. During cold shock, a protein of 21.5 kDa was previously shown to be induced in S.

A 16 kDa protein family overexpressed by Streptococcus thermophilus PB18 in acid environments.

The one- and two-dimensional protein patterns of Streptococcus thermophilus PB18 in the exponential and stationary phases of growth were analysed. One-dimensional SDS-PAGE showed that a 16 kDa protein was overexpressed in stationary phase as well as 2 h after an acid shock, and that it was not expressed when the bacteria reached the stationary phase in medium with limiting lactose concentrations (5 or 10 g l-1), in which the pH (5.5) was not as acid as in control cultures (pH 4.