Abstract: The results of cloning and sequencing of the gene encoding 10 kD zein of maize (Zea mays L. ) with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique are here with presented. The genomic DNA template was extracted from sterilized seedlings of maize. Primered with a pair of synthetic 5′and 3′ PCR primers, a 0.57 kb DNA fragment was obtained after 30 PCR amplification cycles. The restriction map of the DNA fragment has been determined. The result indicated that the entire coding sequence of 10 kD zein gene has been cloned. The homologies of the DNA sequence and deduced amino acid sequences between our result and those published abroad are 96% and 90% respectively. As l0 kD zein is rich in sulphur, this gene might be used to improve the quality of crops, especially, the forage legumes by genetic engineering.

Key words: ZeiniGene cloning, Polymerase chain reaction