Sequence of a pseudogene in the legumin gene family of pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Abstract

A second legumin gene, denoted psi Leg D, has been located on the pea genomic clone lambda Leg 1, approx. 1.3 Kbases 3' of Leg A, in the same orientation. The complete sequence of psi Leg D shows that it is a pseudogene, having two stop codons near the 5' end of its predicted coding sequence, as well as deletions and frame shift errors when compared to Leg A. No transcripts from this gene could be detected in developing pea seeds. Leg A and psi Leg D are homologous over their coding sequences, and partially homologous in the intron sequences and the immediate 5' flanking sequences. Other flanking sequences of the two genes show no significant homology, apart from the presence of polyadenylation signals 3' to both coding sequences. The introns in the two genes occur in corresponding positions in the sequences, but a deletion in psi Leg D affects the 3' boundary of IVS-2. Hybridisation of psi Leg D to pea genomic DNA suggests that it does not represent a hitherto undetected sub-family of legumin genes.