Studies on the biogenesis of the mammalian ATP synthase complex: isolation and characterization of a full-length cDNA encoding the rat F1-beta-subunit.

Screening a rat cDNA library with a fragment of the gene encoding the corresponding bovine protein, we have isolated cDNA clones encoding the complete precursor to the rat F1-beta-subunit. Comparison with other mammalian beta-subunit sequences reveals a 5' untranslated sequence of 27 bp, a targeting sequence of 48 amino acid residues, a 480 amino acid long mature polypeptide and a 3' untranslated region of approximately 150 bp. In vitro translation of F1-beta mRNA reveals the synthesis of multiple fragments of the protein. Preliminary characterization of intron-containing cDNA isolates indicates that the gene encoding the rat F1-beta subunit contains at least two introns.