Nucleotide sequence coding for the respiratory NADH dehydrogenase of Escherichia coli. UUG initiation codon

The nucleotide sequence of the structural gene coding for the respiratory NADH dehydrogenase of Escherichia coli has been determined by the chain-termination method. The reading frame for the protein starts with the unusual initiation codon UUG and predicts an amino acid sequence of 434 residues (Mr = 47 304). The reading frame was confirmed by protein chemical studies including determination of the N-terminal sequence of the protein. The product made in vivo was found to have threonine as its N-terminal residue, indicating that the initiating N-formylmethionine had been removed by post-translational processing.