SEQUENCE-ANALYSIS OF SIGNAL PEPTIDES OF SEED STORAGE PROTEINS

A specialized database on the signal sequences of different seed stora ge protein genes was developed containing information about the sequen ces. A FORTRAN based program CDMOL was written for finding common olig omers within sequences from the database. Consensus sequences were ext racted from the seed storage protein signal sequences of both the mono cots and the dicots. Homology was found to occur in DNA as well as in the corresponding peptide sequences. The conserved amino acid sequence may represent a common topogenic signal responsible for targetting th e seed storage protein molecules into the protein bodies. The conserve d DNA sequence can be utilized as a primer for amplifying target homol ogous seed storage protein genes by Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase C hain Reaction (RT-PCR).