Plant promoter sequences and methods of use for same

Abstract

The invention discloses novel promoter sequences capable of expressing genes in plant cells. The promoters include engineered versions of the maize ubiquitin promoter to increase expression levels beyond those observed with the native ubiquitin promoter and alter the tissue preference. Expression constructs, vectors, transgenic plants and methods are also disclosed.

1. An engineered  isolated ubiquitin promoter sequence capable of directing expression of a nucleotide sequence in a plant cell, said engineered  isolated ubiquitin promoter sequence comprising:
 a heat shock region, wherein said heat shock region has the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4.  
 
     
     
       2. A method for causing expression of a heterologous structural gene or open reading frame in a plant cell, said method comprising:
 introducing to a plant cell an expression construct comprising an engineered  isolated ubiquitin promoter sequence operably linked to said heterologous structural gene or open reading frame, wherein said engineered  isolated ubiquitin promoter sequence comprises a heat shock region, wherein said heat shock region has the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4.  
 
     
     
       3. An isolated modified ubiquitin promoter sequence comprising:
   bases  1 - 1990  of SEQ ID NO: 15  which is capable of directing expression of an operably linked sequence in a plant cell, said isolated sequence having been modified so as to delete SEQ ID NO: 1 .