TY - JOUR
T1 - Cloning and expression of a cDNA encoding the α subunit of rat p21(ras) protein farnesyltransferase
AU - Chen, W. J.
AU - Andres, D. A.
AU - Goldstein, J. L.
AU - Brown, M. S.
PY - 1991
Y1 - 1991
N2 - The complete amino acid sequence of the α subunit of heterodimeric p21(ras) protein farnesyltransferase from rat has been deduced from the sequence of a cloned cDNA. The cDNA encodes a 377-amino acid protein that migrates on NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gels identically to the α subunit purified from rat brain. When introduced into mammalian cells by transfection, the cDNA for the α subunit produced no immunodetectable protein or farnesyltransferase activity unless the cells were simultaneously transfected with a cDNA encoding β subunit. In light of previous evidence that α subunit forms a heterodimer with at least two different β subunits, current data suggest a mechanism for coordinating amounts of α and β subunits. If an α subunit were stable only as a complex with a β subunit, the number of α subunits would be automatically maintained at a level just sufficient to balance all β subunits, thereby avoiding the potentially toxic overaccumulation of free α subunits.
AB - The complete amino acid sequence of the α subunit of heterodimeric p21(ras) protein farnesyltransferase from rat has been deduced from the sequence of a cloned cDNA. The cDNA encodes a 377-amino acid protein that migrates on NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gels identically to the α subunit purified from rat brain. When introduced into mammalian cells by transfection, the cDNA for the α subunit produced no immunodetectable protein or farnesyltransferase activity unless the cells were simultaneously transfected with a cDNA encoding β subunit. In light of previous evidence that α subunit forms a heterodimer with at least two different β subunits, current data suggest a mechanism for coordinating amounts of α and β subunits. If an α subunit were stable only as a complex with a β subunit, the number of α subunits would be automatically maintained at a level just sufficient to balance all β subunits, thereby avoiding the potentially toxic overaccumulation of free α subunits.
KW - covalent modification
KW - heterodimeric enzymes
KW - protein isoprenylation
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U2 - 10.1073/pnas.88.24.11368
DO - 10.1073/pnas.88.24.11368
M3 - Article
C2 - 1763049
AN - SCOPUS:0026328042
SN - 0027-8424
VL - 88
SP - 11368
EP - 11372
JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
IS - 24
ER -