User:Cboursnell/Sandbox/60KD IMP

This family of proteins is required for the insertion of integral membrane proteins into cellular membranes. Many of these integral membrane proteins are associated with respiratory chain complexes, for example a large number of members of this family play an essential role in the activity and assembly of cytochrome c oxidase.

Stage III sporulation protein J (SP3J) is a probable lipoprotein, rich in basic and hydrophobic amino acids. Mutations in the protein abolish the transcription of prespore-specific genes transcribed by the sigma G form of RNA polymerase. SP3J could be involved in a signal transduction pathway coupling gene expression in the prespore to events in the mother cell, or it may be necessary for essential metabolic interactions between the two cells. The protein shows a high degree of similarity to Bacillus subtilis YQJG, to yeast OXA1 and also to bacterial 60 kDa inner-membrane proteins.