Two lectin genes differentially expressed in Dolichos biflorus differ primarily by a 116-base pair sequence in their 5' flanking regions.

Previous studies in our laboratory have shown that the Dolichos biflorus plant contains two similar lectins, a seed lectin and a stem and leaf lectin called DB58, that are present at different stages in the plant's life cycle. We have now established that each of these lectins is encoded by a separate gene by isolating these lectin genes from a library of D. biflorus nuclear DNA. Restriction mapping and nucleotide sequencing analyses show that the seed lectin and DB58 genes are located in the same transcriptional orientation within 3-kilobase pairs of one another. The lectin genes contain no introns and show greater than 90% nucleotide sequence identity in their protein coding and untranslated regions. This sequence similarity extends to both the 5' and 3' flanking regions of the genes; the major exception is that a 116-base pair segment located at position -215 to -100 from the transcription start site of the seed lectin gene is missing in the 5' flanking region of the DB58 gene. The possible significance of this segment with respect to the differential expression of these genes is discussed.