The first nucleotide sequence of an archaeal elongation factor 1 beta gene.

An archaeal elongation factor 1 beta gene has been isolated for the first time from a Sulfolobus solfataricus genomic library. The sequenced clone (869 bp) contained two open reading frames, one coding for a protein made of 91 amino acid residues (SsEF-1 beta), the other one encoding a nonidentified product (ORF 115). The amino acid sequences of segments at the N- and C-terminal of the translated SsEF-1 beta were identical to those determined for the native protein. Northern and Southern analyses showed that the SsEF-1 beta gene is represented in S. solfataricus by a unique sequence. Compared to eubacterial or eukaryal corresponding genes the SsEF-1 beta is much shorter.