Effects of tetracyclines on the production of extracellular proteins by members of the propionibacteriaceae

The effect of tetracyclines on the synthesis of proteins in Propionibacterium avidum and P. acnes was examined. Synthesis of an extracellular lipase by P. avidum was slightly more sensitive to inhibition by tetracycline than total (cellular and extracellular) protein synthesis. The effect of tetracycline and other analogues on the synthesis of secreted proteins was also examined in P. avidum and P. acnes by protein radiolabelling experiments. In all cases the synthesis of secreted proteins was only about 2-fold more sensitive to inhibition by tetracyclines than total protein synthesis. These results contrast with previously published findings in Escherichia coli which show that synthesis of secreted proteins is highly susceptible to inhibition by tetracycline. The implications of these findings in relation to inhibition of membrane bound ribosomes by tetracyclines are discussed.