We have characterized the genes encoding ribosomal proteins (r-proteins) as well as other translation-related factors of 15 eubacteria and four archaebacteria, and the genes for the mitochondrial r-proteins of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by using the complete genomic nucleotide sequence data of these organisms. In eubacteria, including two species of Mycoplasma, the operon structure of the r-protein genes is well conserved, while their relative orientation and chromosomal location are quite divergent. The operon structure of the r-protein genes in archaebacteria, on the other hand, is quite different from eubacteria and also among themselves. In addition, many archaebacterial r-proteins show similarity to rat cytoplasmic r-proteins. Nonetheless, characteristic features of several genes encoding proteins of functional importance are well conserved throughout the bacterial species including archaebacteria, as well as in S. cerevisiae. We searched for the genes encoding mitochondrial r-proteins in yeast by combining informatics and genetic experiments. Furthermore, we characterized some of the r-proteins genes by exchanging portions between Escherichia coli and S. cerevisiae and performed functional analysis of some of the genes from different evolutionary points of view. Our work may be extended towards phylogenetic analysis of organisms producing secondary metabolites of various sorts.

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Journal Article

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Fujita K, Horie T, Isono K

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