The structure of an unusual leghemoglobin gene from soybean.

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Abstract
A clone containing an unusual leghemoglobin (Lb) gene was isolated from a soybean DNA library present in Charon 4A phage. DNA sequence analysis revealed that the isolated Lb gene has three intervening sequences (IVS‐1, IVS‐2 and IVS‐3) located in the same positions as those found in other Lb genes. Due to a large increase of IVS‐2 and IVS‐3, the isolated Lb gene is about twice the size of a normal Lb gene. The coding sequence derived from the DNA sequence corresponds to no known soybean Lb and attempts to find a corresponding mRNA failed. In addition, the 5′‐flanking sequence of the Lb gene is mutated in two regions which seem to be important for transcription. It is, therefore, tentatively suggested that the isolated Lb gene is non‐functional, and consequently is an Lb pseudogene.