Promoter elements conferring root-preferred gene expression

摘要

This invention relates generally to mechanisms of gene expression in plants and more specifically to regulation of expression of genes in plants in a "tissue-preferred" manner. A method for isolation of transcriptional regulatory elements that contribute to tissue-preferred gene expression is disclosed. Transcriptional regulatory elements isolated using the methods of this invention are demonstrated to direct tissue-preferred gene expression of genes within certain tissues of a plant. DNA molecules representing tissue-preferred transcriptional regulatory elements, vectors comprising said DNA molecules and transgenic plants comprising said vectors are demonstrated. These transcriptional regulatory units are utilized to drive tissue-preferred expression of a gene that confers a selective advantage upon a plant.