Abstract
Protein S11 from the E. coli ribosome has a unique NH2-terminal structure not previously observed among ribosomal proteins. Owing to the formation of an isopeptide bond between a secondary amino acid (N-.alpha.-monomethylalanine) and the .epsilon.-amino group of the NH2-terminal lysine residue, a branching point is formed. Threfore, 2 amino acids are seen when the NH2 terminus of the protein is determined.