I. Diaz et al., THE PROMOTER OF THE GENE ITR1 FROM BARLEY CONFERS A DIFFERENT TISSUE-SPECIFICITY IN TRANSGENIC TOBACCO, MGG. Molecular & general genetics, 248(5), 1995, pp. 592-598
Tissue-specific expression of the gene coding for trypsin inhibitor BT
I-CMe in barley (Itr1) occurs during the first half of endosperm devel
opment. In transgenic tobacco, the Itr1 promoter drives expression of
the beta-glucuronidase reporter gene not only in developing endosperm
but also in embryo, cotyledons and the meristematic intercotyledonary
zone of germinating seedlings. A promoter fragment extending 343 bp up
stream of the translation initiation ATG codon was sufficient for full
transgene expression, whereas, the proximal 83 bp segment of the prom
oter was inactive. Possible reasons for the differences in expression
patterns are discussed.