Sequence and expression analysis of a novel Xenopus laevis cDNA that encodes a protein similar to bacterial and chloroplast ribosomal protein L24

We report here the cloning and the characterization of a Xenopus laevis cDN A that encodes a basic protein of 276 amino acids with a central core regio n, which shows a substantial degree of homology to bacterial and chloroplas t ribosomal protein L24, and additional diverged N- and C-terminal polypept ide extensions. The N-terminal extension displays similarities to the mitoc hondrial targetting sequence, thereby suggesting that the cDNA probably cod es for a mitochondrial ribosomal protein. Although the gene was expressed u biquitously, at fairly constant levels, during embryogenesis, the abundance of the transcripts in the different tissues varies with the mRNA levels in the kidney, adipose tissue, muscle and liver being greater than that prese nt in the brain, heart, ovary and lung. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.