Heat shock response of spirochetes.

We examined the heat shock response of the pathogenic spirochetes Treponema pallidum, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Leptospira interrogans and certain saprophytic spirochetes. Cellular proteins synthesized after shifts to higher temperatures were [35S]methionine labeled and analyzed by gel electrophoresis and fluorography. Only T. pallidum failed to exhibit an obvious heat shock response. GroEL and DnaK homologs were identified in the various species, although these proteins were not thermoinducible in T. pallidum or Treponema denticola. DNA hybridization studies indicate that spirochetal groEL and dnaK genes are highly conserved.