Elucidating the function of the unknown Escherichia coli GTPase YjeQ through genetic interactions

The protein YjeQ is a small GTPase that associates with the 30S ribosomal subunit. The slow steady state GTPase activity of YjeQ of 10 h −1 is stimulated 160 fold by this interaction, implicating the ribosome as the site of YjeQ function in the cell. Although dispensable in both Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis , strains lacking this protein are severely comprised for growth. Additionally, we have shown that this protein is a virulence …