8 pages, figures, and tables statistics.Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) seeds accumulate three evolutionarily related plant defense proteins: phytohemaglutinin (PHA), arcelin (Arc) and α-amylase inhibitor (αAI). we identified the gene that encodes snap bean(cv. Greensleeves) αAI on the basis of a partial amino acid sequence of purified αAI supplied by John Whitaker (UC Davis), and the expression of the gene in tobacco seeds.Peer reviewe