Cloning of full length lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) protease inhibitor cDNA by RACE-PCR

The full-length protease inhibitor cDNA was cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) using RNA extracted from Lens cul inaris im mature seeds and primers designed according'to the conserve regions of legume protease inhibitors. The full-length cDNA was 551 bp and contained a 309 bp open reading frame (ORF) ‘encoding a protease inhibitor precursor of 102 amino acids. RT-PCR analysis showed the presence of protease inhibitor mRNA expression in all tested tissues including seed, root, stem, leaf and flower. As the mRNA was detected in all the tested plant tissues, this was considered to be a constitutively expressed gene.