The Escherichia coli Ras-like protein (Era) has GTPase activity and is essential for cell growth.

The era gene of Escherichia coli encodes a protein (Era) which is similar to the eucaryotic RAS family of proteins. We report here that purified Era possesses both GTP-binding and GTPase activities. Era is also shown to be loosely associated with the inner membrane of E. coli. Overproduction of Era to 5% of the total cellular protein does not apparently alter either cell growth or cAMP levels. Disruption of the era gene by insertional inactivation is shown to be lethal by construction of a conditional lethal era mutant strain.