Maize promoters

Abstract

The invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions are nucleotide sequences for tissue-independent or constitutive promoters for genes encoding actin-2, enolase, Gos-2 and L41. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises transforming a plant cell with a nucleotide sequence operably linked to one of the promoters of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant from the transformed plant cell.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An isolated promoter that drives expression, said promoter comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 90% identical to the entire nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3.  
     
     
         2 . The isolated promoter of  claim 1 , wherein said nucleotide sequence is at least 95% identical to the entire nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3.  
     
     
         3 . An expression cassette comprising a promoter and a first nucleotide sequence operably linked to said promoter, wherein said promoter drives expression of said first nucleotide sequence in a plant cell and wherein said promoter comprises a second nucleotide sequence which is at least 90% identical to the enticre nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3.  
     
     
         4 . The expression cassette of  claim 3 , wherein said second nucleotide sequence is at least 95% identical to the entire nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3.  
     
     
         5 . A transformed plant cell having stably incorporated into its genome an expression cassette comprising a promoter and a first nucleotide sequence operably linked to said promoter, wherein said promoter drives expression of said first nucleotide sequence in a plant cell and wherein said promoter comprises a second nucleotide sequence which is at least 90% identical to the entire nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3.  
     
     
         6 . The transformed plant cell of  claim 5 , wherein said second nucleotide sequence is at least 95% identical to the entire nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3.  
     
     
         7 . A transformed plant having stably incorporated into its genome an expression cassette comprising a promoter and a first nucleotide sequence operably linked to said promoter, wherein said promoter drives expression of said first nucleotide sequence in a plant cell and wherein said promoter comprises a second nucleotide sequence which is at least 90% identical to the entire nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3.  
     
     
         8 . The transformed plant of  claim 7 , wherein said second nucleotide sequence is at least 95% identical to the entire nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3.  
     
     
         9 . A method for expressing a first nucleotide sequence in a plant cell, said method comprising transforming a plant cell with a transformation vector comprising an expression cassette, said expression cassette comprising said first nucleotide sequence and a promoter operably linked to said first nucleotide sequence, wherein said promoter drives expression of said first nucleotide sequence in a plant cell and wherein said promoter comprises a second nucleotide sequence which is at least 90% identical to the entire nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said second nucleotide sequence is at least 95% identical to the entire nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3.  
     
     
         11 . A method for expressing a nucleotide sequence in a plant, said method comprising transforming a plant cell according to the method set forth in  claim 9 , and further comprising regenerating a transformed plant from said plant cell, wherein said plant has stably incorporated into its genome said expression cassette.