On the release of the formyl group from nascent protein

Abstract

Extracts from Escherichia coli and Bacillus stearothermophilus contain enzymes which liberate amino groups from formylmethionyl peptides. Both extracts cleave formyl-Met-Ala-Ser to yield formate and Met-Ala-Ser, but not formylmethionine, as products. A number of formylmethionyl peptides are hydrolyzed much faster than other formyl peptides, acetyl-Met-Ala or formylmethionine. Furthermore, a protein fraction from E. coli which contains the peptide deformylase removes formate from protein made in vitro. These findings argue that the function of the peptide deformylases is to remove the formyl group from nascent protein. Another enzyme in the E. coli extract hydrolyzes formylmethionine, but the..