Cloning and characterization of the yeast chaperonin HSP60 gene

The heat-shock protein, HSP60, is abundant in prokaryotes and eukaryotes and is required in the assembly of specific proteins. We have cloned the Saccharomyces cerevisiae HSP60 gene from a lambda gt11 genomic library using monoclonal antibodies, have obtained its sequence, determined its transcription start point, and shown that it exists as a single copy. The predicted HSP60 contains a mitochondrial target sequence and exhibits striking amino acid sequence similarity to its counterparts in bacteria, plants, and humans. These data indicate a high level of evolutionary conservation and are consistent with the suggestion of evolutionarily conserved function [Hemmingsen et al., Nature 333 (1988), 330-334].