Maize Promoter P95 and Methods of Use

Abstract

A promoter isolated from Zea mays, designated the P95 promoter, provides a high level of specificity for expression in developing pollen, particularly at the mid-uninucleate stage, as confirmed by RT-PCR and Northern blot analyses of RNA samples from various tissues. Compositions and methods of use of the P95 promoter are disclosed.

1 . A regulatory element for preferential expression of an operably-linked polynucleotide in developing pollen, comprising a sequence with 80% identity to SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         2 . A regulatory element for preferential expression of an operably-linked polynucleotide in developing pollen, comprising an operable fragment of SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         3 . An expression cassette comprising the promoter of  claim 1  and an operably-linked polynucleotide. 
     
     
         4 . A transformation vector comprising the expression cassette of  claim 3 . 
     
     
         5 . A plant stably transformed with the expression cassette of  claim 3 . 
     
     
         6 . The plant of  claim 5 , wherein the plant is a monocot. 
     
     
         7 . The plant of  claim 6 , wherein the monocot is maize, wheat, rice, barley, sorghum, or rye. 
     
     
         8 . A transformed cell of the plant of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         9 . A method for selectively expressing a polynucleotide in a plant cell, the method comprising transforming a plant cell with the expression cassette of  claim 3 . 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising regenerating a stably transformed plant from the transformed plant cell. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein fertility of the transformed plant is impacted. 
     
     
         12 . An expression cassette comprising the promoter of  claim 2  and an operably-linked polynucleotide. 
     
     
         13 . A transformation vector comprising the expression cassette of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         14 . A plant stably transformed with the expression cassette of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         15 . The plant of  claim 14 , wherein the plant is a monocot. 
     
     
         16 . The plant of  claim 15 , wherein the monocot is maize, wheat, rice, barley, sorghum, or rye. 
     
     
         17 . A transformed cell of the plant of  claim 14 . 
     
     
         18 . A method for selectively expressing a polynucleotide in a plant cell, the method comprising transforming a plant cell with the expression cassette of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising regenerating a stably transformed plant from the transformed plant cell. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein fertility of the transformed plant is impacted.