Characterization of a maturation-specific mRNA in dry mung bean embryonic axes

The poly(A)-rich RNA from dry mung bean (Vigna radiata [L.] Wilczek) embryonic axes has been isolated and translated in a wheat embryo cell-free system, and the products were analyzed on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. The fluorographyic patterns showed a heavy band at approximately MW 12,000. The messenger RNA coding for this polypeptide disappeared in the course of early germination. This messenger is translated in vivo but simultaneously degrades when the axes imbibe. The poly(A)-rich RNA from dry axes has been fractionated on sucrose-dimethyl sulfoxide gradients, and this messenger has been found to be distributed largely in the 9-14 S region. The polypeptide synthesized in vitro has been immunoprecipitated, using the antiserum raised against this protein purified from dry axes.