Provided are vector constructs and methods for expressing a transgene in plant cells and/or plant tissues using gene regulatory elements, including the promoters, 5′-UTRs, and/or 3′-UTRs, isolated from Zea mays.
1. A nucleic acid vector comprising a promoter operably linked to a heterologous nucleic acid sequence,
wherein said promoter comprises SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the nucleic acid vector further comprises a 3′ untranslated sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 3, and wherein the 3′ untranslated sequence is operably linked to said heterologous nucleic acid sequence.
2. The nucleic acid vector of claim 1 , wherein said promoter is less than 700 bp in length.
3. The nucleic acid vector of claim 1 , wherein said promoter consists of SEQ ID NO: 1.
4. The nucleic acid vector of claim 1 , wherein said heterologous nucleic acid sequence is a transgene or small RNA.
5. The nucleic acid vector of claim 4 , wherein the transgene encodes a selectable marker or a gene product conferring insecticidal resistance, herbicide tolerance, nitrogen use efficiency, water use efficiency, or nutritional quality.
6. The nucleic acid vector of claim 1 , wherein the 3′ untranslated sequence is SEQ ID NO: 2.
7. The nucleic acid vector of claim 1 , wherein the 3′ untranslated sequence is SEQ ID NO: 3.
8. The nucleic acid vector of claim 1 further comprising a 5′ untranslated sequence or an intron sequence.
9. A plant comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 operably linked to a heterologous transgene or a small RNA, and wherein the plant further comprises a 3′ untranslated sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 3, wherein the 3′ untranslated sequence is operably linked to said transgene or said small RNA.
10. The plant of claim 9 , wherein said plant is selected from the group consisting of Zea mays , wheat, rice, sorghum, oats, rye, bananas, sugar cane, soybean, cotton, sunflower, Arabidopsis , tobacco, and canola.
11. The plant of claim 9 , wherein the plant is Zea mays.
12. The plant of claim 9 , wherein the transgene is inserted into the genome of the plant.
13. The plant of claim 9 , wherein the 3′ untranslated sequence is SEQ ID NO:2.
14. The plant of claim 9 , wherein the 3′ untranslated sequence is SEQ ID NO:3.