SEQUENCE AND DEVELOPMENTAL EXPRESSION OF A SEED STORAGE PROTEIN GENE IN PECAN

A cDNA clone, designated pep1, that encodes a putative seed storage pr otein in pecan (Carya illinoinensis) was isolated and characterized. N orthern blot analysis indicated that this gene is embryo-specific, and is temporally expressed during the reserve accumulation stage of peca n seed development. The nucleotide sequence covers the partial coding region (135 base pairs) with a 3' non-coding region of 219 base pairs. The deduced amino acid sequence consists of 45 amino acids that bears close identity to seed storage proteins from other plants.