VIEW ARTICLE

Physiology and Biochemistry

Evaluation of Two-Dimensional Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis of Acidic Proteins of Ribosome Preparations for Identifying Plant Pathogenic Soft-Rotting Bacteria. H. E. Moline, Research plant pathologist, Horticultural Science Institute, U.S. Department of Agriculture, S&E, ARS, Beltsville, MD 20705; K. S. Johnson(2), and J. D. Anderson(3). (2)Biological laboratory technician, Horticultural Science Institute, U.S. Department of Agriculture, S&E, ARS, Beltsville, MD 20705; (3)Plant physiologist, Plant Physiology Institute, U.S. Department of Agriculture, S&E, ARS, Beltsville, MD 20705. Phytopathology 73:224-227. Accepted for publication 23 June 1982. This article is in the public domain and not copyrightable. It may be freely reprinted with customary crediting of the source. The American Phytopathological Society, 1983. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-73-224.

Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic separation of proteins was successfully used for identifying cultures of plant pathogenic bacteria. Profiles of soluble proteins were very complex; however, profiles of ribosomal protein-enriched fractions contained only 5- 10 major proteins and could be used to distinguish strains of Erwinia carotovora, E. atroseptica, and E. chrysanthemi. Most significant differences in profiles of ribosomal-enriched protein of Erwinia spp. were in those of the acidic proteins in the 20- 50 Kdalton molecular weight range. Although several protein clusters were similar on all strains of E. carotovora and E. atroseptica examined, significantly different clusters were observed between these strains and those of E. chrysanthemi.