The synthesis of legumin in developing cotyledons of Vicia faba L. has been examined as a potential system for approaching the problem of differential gene expression. The pattern of legumin synthesis was determined during the growth of the cotyledon by microcomplement fixation which provided a sensitive and specific assay for legumin in the presence of vicilin. Legumin was detected even in young cotyledons. However, when the cotyledons were about 10 millimeters long, and cell division was essentially complete, there was a sharp increase in the rate of legumin accumulation.Developing seeds of Leguminosae offer an attractive system for studying the problem of differential gene expression. These seeds accumulate large amounts of globulins which consist of two high molecular weight proteins, legumin and vicilin, as defined by analytical centrifugation (11,12). Varner and Schidlovsky (29) showed globulins to be localized in protein bodies within pea cotyledons. A major attempt to use developing seeds of Leguminosae for studies of differential gene expression was first made by . They used immature seeds of Pisum sativum for analyzing the regulation of transcription and translation of chromatin preparations from cotyledon cells. More recently, Boulter and associates (2,3,9,10,25,32) have initiated extensive studies of cotyledon development in V.faba. In this paper we wish to report our analyses of legumin synthesis in relation to the growth of the cotyledon of V. faba. MATERIAIS AND METHODS Plant Material. Seeds of Vicia faba L. (cultivar unknown)were grown in soil in the greenhouse or garden. When pods were harvested, any abnormally shaped material was excluded. In a pod there were usually three or four seeds of equal size which were used and one or two smaller seeds which were

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