Legumes tend to be deficient in the essential amino acid methionine and are therefore an incomplete source of protein for human consumption. The development of new varieties of legume crops with increased levels of methionine would be of economic benefit not only to Canada, a major producer and exporter of these crops, but on a larger scale as well, as legume crops are a staple in manycountries. Sulfur acid biosynthesis and accumulation is under complex metabolic control. The increased understanding, both of the enzymes involved and of their transcriptional and post-translational regulation, will lead to the development of crop plants with improved nutritional characteristics.
