The proteome of Mycoplasma genitalium

Mycoplasma genitalium is the smallest member of the class Mollicutes, with a genome size of 580 kb. It has the potential to express 480 gene products, and is therefore considered to be an excellent model to assess: (a) the minimum metabolism required by a free living cell; and (b) proteomic technologies and the information obtained by proteome analysis. Here, we report on the most complete proteome observed at 73% (expected proteome), and analysed at 33% (reported proteome). The use of four overlapping pH windows in conjunction with SDS/PAGE has allowed 427 distinct proteins to be resolved in association with the exponential growth of M. genitalium. Proof of expression for 201 proteins of sufficient abundance on silver stained two-dimensional gels was obtained using peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) of which 158 were identified. The potential for gene product modification in even the simplest known self-replicating organism was quantified at a ratio of 1.22 : 1, more proteins than genes. A reduction in protein expression of 42% was observed for post-exponentially-grown cells. DnaK, GroEL, DNA gyrase, and a cytadherence accessory protein were significantly elevated, while some ribosomal proteins were reduced in relative abundance. The strengths and weaknesses of techniques employed were assessed with respect to the observed and predicted proteome derived from DNA sequence information. Proteomics was shown to provide a perspective into the biochemical and metabolic activities of this organism, beyond that obtainable by sequencing alone.