Constitutive promoters from poplar and uses thereof
The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules corresponding to regulatory portions of genes whose expression is constitutive. The invention also relates to compositions and methods of using the same to regulate the expression, in a constitutive manner, of genes and/or any kind of nucleotide sequences in a plant. Nucleic acid molecules and its compositions include novel nucleotide sequences for constitutive promoter identified in and isolated from poplar ( Populus spp). Methods for expressing genes and/or any kind of nucleotide sequences in a plant using the promoter sequences disclosed herein are provided. The methods comprise stably incorporating into the genome of a plant cell a nucleotide sequence operably linked to one or more of the constitutive promoters of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant that expresses the nucleotide sequence.
1. An expression vector comprising:
(a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence that initiates transcription of a nucleic acid molecule in a plant cell, wherein said isolated nucleic acid molecule comprises the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or 3, wherein said nucleotide sequence is capable of initiating transcription of a nucleic acid molecule in a plant cell, and
(b) a heterologous nucleic acid molecule which encodes a protein of interest, wherein (a) and (b) are in operable linkage.
2. The expression vector of claim 1 , wherein said expression vector is a plasmid.
3. A recombinant cell, wherein said recombinant cell is transformed or transfected with the expression vector of claim 1 .
4. The recombinant cell of claim 3 , wherein said expression vector is stably incorporated in said recombinant cell's genome.
5. A method of making a recombinant cell, wherein said method comprises transforming or transfecting a cell with the expression vector of claim 2 .
6. A method of making a protein encoded by the expression vector of claim 2 , comprising transforming or transfecting a cell with said expression vector to produce a recombinant cell, and culturing said cell under conditions favorable for the expression of said protein.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein said recombinant cell is a plant cell.
8. A method for making a protein, said method comprising culturing a plant or plant part which comprises the recombinant cell of claim 3 , under conditions favoring production of said protein by said plant or plant part.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said plant is a dicot.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said plant is Eucalyptus.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein said plant is Populus.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein said plant is a monocot.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein said plant is a gymnosperm.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said gymnosperm is Pinus.
15. The recombinant cell of claim 3 , wherein said recombinant cell is a plant cell.
16. A plant or plant part comprising the recombinant cell of claim 15 .
17. The plant of claim 16 , wherein said plant is a dicot.
18. The plant of claim 17 , wherein said plant is Eucalyptus.
19. The plant of claim 17 , wherein said plant is Populus.
20. The plant of claim 16 , wherein said plant is a monocot.
21. The plant of claim 16 , wherein said plant is a gymnosperm.
22. The plant of claim 21 , wherein said gymnosperm is Pinus.
23. The plant or part of claim 16 , wherein said plant part is a propagule.
24. The recombinant cell of claim 3 , wherein said recombinant cell is a pollen cell.
25. The method of claim 8 , wherein said plant part is selected from the group consisting of a root, a stem, a leaf, a flower, a fruit, a seed, a pistil, a stigma, a style, an ovary, an ovule, an stamen, an anther, and a filament.