Proteomic characterization of transient expression and secretion of a stress-related metalloprotease in high cell density culture of Bacillus megaterium

Abstract Intracellular and extracellular proteome analysis was carried out by combined two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometric analysis (2DE/MS) for high cell density fed-batch culture of recombinant Bacillus megaterium strains. In the early feeding phase with a constant growth rate of 0.12 h −1 under glucose limitation, high expression and secretion of a metalloprotease (referred as Bmg1465) was detected. The transient appearance of this metalloprotease was found both as cell-associated and as secreted into the culture medium. Searching homologous proteins for functional assignment led to an unambiguous identification of Bmg1465 as a zinc-binding metalloprotease of the type immune inhibitor A (InhA). Metalloproteases of this type are currently considered as typical virulence factors associated with pathogenic Bacillus species. The result raises questions concerning the intrinsic function(s) of Bmg1465 in B. megaterium , which has the GRAS status, with respect to its stress response in high cell density culture.