SEED-SPECIFIC EXPRESSION OF THE 2S ALBUMIN GENE FROM BRAZIL NUT (BERTHOLLETIA-EXCELSA) IN TRANSGENIC VICIA-NARBONENSIS

In order to evaluate the possibility of enhancing the sulphur amino ac ids in grain legumes, we have transferred the gene for the methionine- rich 2S albumin from Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) controlled by a seed-specific promoter into Vicia narbonensis. The coding region of t he 2S albumin gene that has been completely synthesized was fused to t he seed-specific legumin B4 promoter from Vicia faba. Transgenic lines of V. narbonensis were generated via Agrobacterium-mediated gene tran sfer. Western blot analysis of leaves, stems, roots and seeds of four RO plants revealed that the expression of the foreign 2S albumin gene occurred in a seed-specific manner and that the foreign protein is pre sent at levels ranging from 1% to 4.8% of total SDS-soluble seed prote in. Since the current protocol for transformation of V. narbonensis ha s not yet been published, a detailed description of the method is give n.