An-Najah Staff

The legJ subfamily of genes in garden pea, Pisum sativum L., encodes “minor” legumin seed storage protein polypeptides. Data on the differential expression of the 3 genes (legJ,K,L) within this subfamily is reported. The expression of one gene (legJ) is specifically upregulated during the desiccation phase of cotyledon development, when other storage protein genes are downregulated. The complete sequence of a second gene in the subfamily, legK, shows that the failure to observe any expression ofthis gene is due to the mutation of its initiator ATG (methionine) codon to a GTG (valine) codon. The third gene in the subfamily, legL, shows maximal expression during the cotyledon expansion phase of seed development, i.e. like other storage protein genes. Evidence for the use of alternative polyadenylation addition signal sequences in these genes is also presented.