Amino-acid sequence homology of a polymorphic cellular protein from human lymphocytes and the chaperonins from Escherichia coli (groEL) and chloroplasts (Rubisco-binding protein).

The human p60 (Mr 60,000) is an abundant protein in the two-dimensional electrophoresis pattern of the cellular proteins of human mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes. The p60 shows as remarkable characteristic a genetic polymorphism with two different alleles. Electrotransfer of this protein from two-dimensional gels onto siliconized glass fiber sheets and subsequent amino-acid sequence analysis has revealed a striking homology to the known bacteria and plant chaperonins, the groEL and the Rubisco-subunit-binding protein. From this sequence homology we conclude that we have identified the human chaperonin homologue.