[Expression of cold-shock-protein genes from Lactococcus lactis and analysis of the cryoprotection function].
OBJECTIVE
Bacteria are able to adapt to temperatures far below their optimum growth temperatures, and a set of proteins (cold shock proteins, CSPs) are strongly induced in response to a rapid decrease in growth temperature. We studied the key functions in cryoprotection against damage caused by freezing of these proteins.


METHODS
NcoI-HindIII CspC and CspD fragments were cloned respectively between NcoI and HindIII in pNZ8148, the recombinants plasmid were subsequently transformed by electroporation into Lactobacillus lactisNZ9000. Overproduction of CSPs was achieved by the addition of different concentrations of nisin to cultures and was analyzed by SDS-PAGE. In order to study the cryoprotection of CspC and CspD, the growth curves including the control strain and CSP-overproducing strains were developed. The number of colony-forming units was determined just before freezing and after four consecutive freeze-thaw operations.


RESULTS
The 7 kDa cold-shock protein CspD and 6.2 kDa cold-shock protein CspC were identified respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that CspC improves the recovery of cells and CspD increases the viability after freezing (30-40 folds).
Yinghua
Zhang
Z
Key Lab of Dairy Science, Ministry of Education, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China. yhzhang2000@126.com
Yuting
Lei
L
Guicheng
Huo
H
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013294:Lactococcus lactis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050296:Microbial Viability; D008970:Molecular Weight
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C088099:CspC protein, bacteria; C088098:CspD protein, bacteria; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins