A ZEA-MAYS GTP-BINDING PROTEIN OF THE ARF FAMILY COMPLEMENTS AN ESCHERICHIA-COLI MUTANT WITH A TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE MALONYL-COENZYME A-ACYL CARRIER PROTEIN TRANSACYLASE

In an attempt to isolate a plant malonyl-coenzyme A:acyl carrier prote in transacylase cDNA clone, by direct genetic selection in an Escheric hia coli fabD mutant (LA2-89) with a maize cDNA expression library, a Zen mays cDNA clone encoding a GTP-binding protein of the ARF family w as isolated. Complementation of a mutation affecting bacterial membran e lipid biosynthesis by a plant ARF protein, could indicate the existe nce of as yet unidentified bacterial equivalents of this ubiquitous eu caryotic GTP-binding protein.