Patent
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, introns, 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: 5,
wherein the nucleic acid vector further comprises a 3′ untranslated sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 6, 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 3kb in length.
3. The nucleic acid vector of claim 1 , wherein said promoter consists of SEQ ID NO: 5.
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. A plant comprising SEQ ID NO: 5 operably linked to a heterologous transgene, and wherein the plant further comprises a 3′ untranslated sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 6, wherein the 3′ untranslated sequence is operably linked to said transgene.
7. The plant of claim 6 , 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.
8. The plant of claim 6 , wherein the plant is Zea mays.
9. The plant of claim 6 , wherein the transgene is inserted into the genome of the plant.