CDNA SEQUENCE FOR BOVINE RIBOSOMAL-PROTEIN L3 CARRYING A BIPARTITE NUCLEAR TARGETING MOTIF, IDENTIFIED ALSO IN MANY OTHER RIBOSOMAL-PROTEINS

A full-length cDNA encoding bovine ribosomal protein L3 was isolated a nd sequenced. The deduced protein sequence comprises 403 amino acids a nd shows a high level of identity with the other known mammalian L3 pr oteins. Southern blot analysis of bovine genomic DNA suggests that the bovine genome contains at least 4 copies of the L3 gene. A single hyb ridisation band of about 1.3 kb is detectable by Northern blot analysi s. Within the amino acid sequence, two potential nuclear targeting seq uences were detected: one at the N-terminal end and the other, consist ing in a bipartite motif (amino acids 341 to 358), present and not pre viously noticed also in the other known mammalian L3 proteins. A searc h on all the available mammalian ribosomal proteins revealed the prese nce of this bipartite motif in many of these proteins.