Sequence homology between EF-1 alpha, the alpha-chain of elongation factor 1 from Artemia salina and elongation factor EF-Tu from Escherichia coli.

In the course of a structural analysis of the alpha-chain of elongation factor 1 from Artemia salina cysts, we present four amino acid sequences comprising together half of the polypeptide chain. A comparison of these sequences with the primary structure of elongation factor EF-Tu from Escherichia coli reveals a clear correspondence between the eukaryotic and prokaryotic protein throughout their polypeptide chains. The results support a basic conservation of the structure of the aminoacyl-tRNA carrying enzyme in evolution. The occurrence, in the eukaryotic factor, of several epsilon-trimethyllysine residues, is remarkable.