The 19-kDal protein encoded by early region 1b of adenovirus type 12 is synthesized efficiently in Escherichia coli only as a fused protein.

We have constructed recombinant plasmids that direct the synthesis of the Mr 19 000 protein encoded by the adenovirus type 12 (Ad12) E1b region as either a native protein or a protein fused to the amino-terminal portion of the elongation factor EF-TuB in Escherichia coli cells. Using these recombinants, we could synthesize a large amount of the fused protein, while only a small amount of the native Mr 19 000 protein was produced. The failure to synthesize the native Mr 19 000 protein in E. coli cells was ascribed to inefficient translation.