Our lab has previously isolated the gene for miraculin, a taste-modifying protein, from the pollen of Ambrosia trifida. This weedy plant, commonly known as Giant Ragweed, is a major producer of pollen that causes hay fever. The cDNA sequence of this gene was used to design PCR primers for the amplification and sequencing of genomic DNA from this species, as well as a related species, common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia). These genomic sequences were analyzed in terms of intron structure, phylogenetics, and protein structure and function. These gene sequences provide novel insights into the possible roles of proteases in plants
