Cloning and nucleotide sequencing of the genes for ribosomal proteins S9 (rpsI) and L13 (rplM) of Escherichia coli.

The genes for the ribosomal proteins S9 (rpsI) and L13 (rplM) of Escherichia coli have been cloned into a lambda phage vector termed L47.1. The two genes were identified by infecting UV-light irradiated cells with the resultant phages and analyzing the protein products by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Suitable DNA fragments of the isolate were cloned subsequently into M13 phage vectors and their nucleotide sequence was determined by the dideoxy method. It is evident that the two genes form a transcriptional unit, the rplM gene being promoter-proximal. There is a typical signal sequence for transcriptional termination after the rpsI gene. The codon usage pattern in the two genes is similar to other ribosomal protein genes of E. coli.