(1) A considerable degree of overall similarity was seen between rimL and rimJ, but the degree of similarity between rimL and rimI was very low.
(2) The nucleotide sequence of the gene and the amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence were compared with those of two other ribosomal protein acetylases encoded by the rimI and rimJ genes (Yoshikawa et al.
(3) From the nucleotide sequence data for the two genes the RimI enzyme was deduced to contain 161 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular weight (Mr) of 18232 and the RimJ enzyme contains 194 amino acid residues with a calculated Mr of 22687.
(4) The rimI gene of Escherichia coli K12, which encodes an enzyme catalysing acetylation of the N-terminal alanine of ribosomal protein S18, has been cloned into a mini-F plasmid pRE432 and characterized at the molecular level.
(5) MAK3 encodes a protein with substantial homology to the Escherichia coli rimI N-acetyltransferase that acetylates the NH2 terminus of ribosomal protein S18, and shares consensus sequences with a group of N-acetyltransferases.