The influence of temperature stress on protein synthesis in the Rhodomicrobium vannielii (RM5) and in a rifampicin-resistant mutant R82

Abstract A rifampicin-resistant mutant of Rhodomicrobium vannielii was isolated which was found to be temperature-sensitive for swarmer-cell production. Two-dimensional PAGE analysis of proteins synthesised by the mutant indicated that the alterations in cell growth related to a reduced ability of the cell to synthesise the β-subunits of the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase. These observations point to an autogenous regulatory system controlling the synthesis of RNA polymerase subunits in R. vannielii . Temperature stress also influenced the synthesis of a number of other proteins; several were identified as either cell-specific or as heat-shock proteins.