Methylation of elongation factor 1 alpha from the fungus Mucor.

A basic protein from the dimorphic fungus Mucor racemosus, found to be highly methylated, is shown to be protein synthesis elongation factor 1 alpha. This protein is the most abundant protein in hyphal cells but is less abundant in yeast cells. It is post-translationally methylated with the formation of mono-, di-, and trimethyllysine at as many as 16 sites. Nearly 20% of the 44 lysine residues of elongation factor 1 alpha from mycelia are modified while those from sporangiospores are virtually unmethylated.