Structure and Expression of Genes Encoding the Soybean 7S Seed Storage Proteins

The 7S seed storage proteins (vicilins) of soybean (Glycine max) are trimeric holoproteins that accumulate during the cotyledon and maturation stages of seed development. The α’, α and β subunits represent the majority of the subunits. To a lesser degree another group of subunits (the γ subunits) are also found in the vicilin proteins. The synthesis of each of these subunits is differentially regulated. Several of the messenger RNAs (mRNAs) encoding these subunits contain identical nucleotide sequences, but also unique sequences specific for the individual subunits.