OCS enhancer.

摘要

DNA segments which act to increase or activate the expression of genes in plants are described and characterized. These transcription activating elements contain DNA sequences from the upstream untranscribed flanking region of the octopine synthase gene (ocs) of the T-DNA of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The ocs transcription activating element contains a first essential component which has the identifying sequence 5'-ACGTAAGCGTTACGT-3'. A second nonessential component having the identifying sequence 5'-GATGTTAACATC-3' contributes to the level of gene expression. Recombinant DNA molecules containing the plant transcription activating element and a plant-expressible gene under its control are provided. The transcription activating element described and DNA molecules containing it are useful in a method for increasing the level of expression of genes in plant tissue.