title: A promoter directing epidermal expression in transgenic alfalfa.
abstract: We describe the isolation, cloning and expression of a 2.8 kb promoter fragment of the Blec4 gene from pea (Pisum sativum cv. Alaska) and demonstrate that it is capable of directing the expression of the beta-glucuronidase coding region to the developing epidermal tissue of vegetative and floral shoot apices of transgenic alfalfa (Medicago sativa cv. RegenSY). The Blec4 promoter represents a useful tool with which to target the expression of foreign genes to the epidermal layer of actively growing shoots. The activity of the Blec4 promoter in the epidermis of the shoot apex makes it particularly suitable for genetically engineering defense against insects and diseases that attack the growing shoot apex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mandaci
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Dobres
mesh_terms: D007887:Fabaceae / Q000235:genetics*; D018628:Gene Dosage; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007300:Insect Control; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000235:genetics; D018532:Pisum sativum / Q000235:genetics; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D019441:Plant Epidermis / Q000235:genetics*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D005966:Glucuronidase