Analysis of the Maize 19 kD Zein Gene Promoter FragmentDriving Seed-specific Expression

A deletion works of a maize 19 kD zein gene promoter in the 5'end was performed and six promoterfragments of different length were obtained. A series of expression vectors was constructed and then transferred into tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. ) plants. GUS activity assays indicated that the expression of 488 hp promoter was tissue--specific, for which GUS was active only in transgenic tobacco seeds. The other four fragments containing 378 bp.302 bp.152 bp and 124 bp also have the activity of promoter. They could drive gus gene expressed not only in seeds but also in roots and petioles.