Isolation and characterization of cDNAs encoding storage proteins of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

A cDNA library was constructed in λZAPII vector from poly(A)+ RNA isolated from developing seeds of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Two cDNA clones encoding legumin protein were obtained by screening the library by plaque hybridization using a heterologous pea legumin cDNA probe. The pBluescript plasmids were excised from the phage clones and two clones designated pCSSK4 and pCSSK5 with inserts of 1.45 kb and 1.82 kb respectively were mapped by restriction and partially sequenced. The partial nucleotide sequence showed that these two cDNAs are not identical and showed sequence homology with the storage protein cDNA clones of other legumes.