GUF1, A GENE ENCODING A NOVEL EVOLUTIONARILY CONSERVED GTPASE IN BUDDING YEAST

While sequencing a region of chromosome IV adjacent to the checkpoint gene MEC3, we identified a gene we call GUF1 (GTPase of Unknown Functi on), which predicts a 586 amino acid GTPase of the elongation factor-t ype class. The predicted Guf1p protein bears striking sequence similar ity to both LepA from Escherichia coli (43% identical) and LK1236.1 fr om Caenorhabditis elegans (42% identical). Analysis of both a guf1 Del ta deletion and a putative constitutive-activating mutant (GUF1HG) rev ealed that GUF1 is not essential nor did mutant cells reveal any maske d phenotype. The GenBank Accession Number for the GUF1 sequence is U22 360.