The cloning and sequencing of a ribosomal L18 protein from an evolutionary divergent eukaryote, Trypanosoma brucei

Eukaryotic ribosomal proteins are highly conserved across widely divergent species, suggesting that strong functional constraints prevent divergence of important amino acid motifs. Using this as a basis, an evolutionary approach could be used to identify putative functional motifs. We obtained the DNA sequence of the ribosomal protein L18 from the evolutionary divergent protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma brucei. Analysis of this sequence showed that it had 46% and 43% identity with the human and yeast sequences, respectively, and 30% of amino acid residues were identical across all the species analysed. Using these data, amino acids essential to the structure and function of ribosomal protein L18 can be inferred and could provide valuable information for molecular modelling and mutational studies.