Identification of a ras gene in the slime mold Physarum polycephalum

Abstract

A ras homologue was identified in the cDNA library from the slime mold Physarum polycephalum. The cDNA codes for a protein of 189 amino acids, showing high homology to ras genes from other organisms, especially to these from Dictyostelium discoideum. Amino acid sequence at the C-terminus of the putative protein suggests that unlike most other ras proteins, it is not palmitoylated and bears a geranylgeranyl rather than farnesyl chain.