Comparison of low-molecular-weight heat stress proteins encoded on plasmids in different strains of Streptococcus thermophilus.

Streptococcus thermophilus is used extensively for industrial fermentation of dairy products. Some strains of S. thermophilus are known to carry plasmids, and many of these plasmids are suspected of encoding low-molecular-weight heat stress proteins (Hsps) that may aid in survival under stressful conditions. In order to confirm the presence and examine the similarity of these low-molecular-weight Hsps, genes were identified and sequenced encoding Hsps on plasmids pER16 (4.5 kb), pER35 (10 kb), and pER36 (3.7 kb) from three different strains of S. thermophilus. The plasmid replication proteins were also sequenced to examine their relatedness. Amino acid sequence comparisons of the Hsps and of the replication proteins revealed a high degree of identity suggesting a common origin. Heat stress proteins enhance the viability of bacteria in extreme environments, and the presence of an Hsp encoded on a plasmid may enhance survival of S. thermophilus under harsh production conditions.