GUF1, a gene encoding a novel evolutionarily conserved GTPase in budding yeast

While sequencing a region of chromosome IV adjacent to the checkpoint gene MEC3, we identified a gene we call GUF1 (GTPase of Unknown Function), which predicts a 586 amino acid GTPase of the elongation factor-type class. The predicted Guf1p protein bears striking sequence similarity to both LepA from Escherichia coli (43% identical) and LK1236.1 from Caenorhabditis elegans (42% identical). Analysis of both a guf1 delta deletion and a putative constitutive-activating mutant (GUF1HG) revealed that GUF1 is not essential nor did mutant cells reveal any marked phenotype.