Prokaryotic-type aspartate aminotransferase. Specific for aspartate and no activity with glutamine, asparagine, alanine, histidine, leucine, methionine, lysine, arginine, tryptophan, tyrosine, phenylalanine or kynureine. 2-oxoglutarate + L-aspartate = L-glutamate + oxaloacetate Homodimer. Not detected in the embryo, but accumulates upon germination of the seed and during seedling development. The orthologous protein in Arabidopsis has an additional glutamate/aspartate-prephenate aminotransferase activity. Belongs to the class-I pyridoxal-phosphate-dependent aminotransferase family.