Proteome profiling of Bacillus subtilis stressed with the antibiotics tetracycline and chelocardin

Chelocardin is an atypical tetracycline and its mechanism of action is discussed controversially in literature. Therefore, we analyzed the bacterial response of Bacillus subtilis to chelocardin and as a control for classical tetracyclines to tetracycline by proteomic profiling. The induced marker proteins mirror the damage in the cell due the antibiotic stress. Proteomic profiling was carried out by 2D-PAGE and spot identification by nUPLC-ESI-MS/MS. The proteomic profile of chelocardin demonstrates a dual mechanism of action with protein biosynthesis inhibition and membrane damage.