The antibacterial effects of essential oils and their components (EOCs) are usually attributed to effects on membranes and metabolism. Studies of the effects of EOCs on protein expression have primarily analysed proteins larger than 10 kDa using gel electrophoresis. In the present study, we used MALDI-TOF-MS to investigate the effects of EOCs on low-molecular-weight proteins. From 297 m/z features, we identified 94 proteins with important differences in expression among untreated samples, samples treated with EOCs, and samples treated with antibiotics, peroxide, or chlorine. The targets of these treatments obviously differ, even among EOCs. In addition to ribosomal proteins, stress-, membrane- and biofilm-related proteins were affected. These findings may provide a basis for identifying new targets of essential oils and synergies with other antibiotics.

Czech University of Life Sciences Faculty of Agrobiology Food and Natural Resources Department of Plant Protection Prague Czech Republic

Czech University of Life Sciences Faculty of Agrobiology Food and Natural Resources Department of Quality of Agricultural Products Prague Czech Republic

University of Chemistry and Technology Department of Computing and Control Engineering Prague Czech Republic

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Data on low-molecular weight proteins of Escherichia coli treated by essential oils components, tetracycline, chlorine and peroxide by MALDI-TOF MS