An Arabidopsis cyclin promoter region is active in transgenic maize plants

We have produced transgenic maize carrying Arabidopsis cyclin promoter and beta-glucuronidase chimeric fusion (cycB1;1At::GUS) by direct DNA uptake in to embryogenic cell suspension protoplasts to study the activity of this cy clin promoter in a heterologous cell system. The transgenic maize lines exh ibiting different levels of reporter gene expression show that regulatory e lements from cycB1;1At gene as a dicot promoter can function in maize. Expr ession patterns revealed by fluorimetric, as well as, histochemical GUS rep orter enzymatic assays indicated cell division-dependent expression of the GUS gene driven by this cycB1;At;1 promoter with elevated activity in proli ferating cells and meristems. Treatment of tissues with inhibitors of mitos is increased the activity of cycB1;1At promoter, that suggests a link betwe en mitotic phase of cell division and activity of cycB1;1At regulatory elem ents in transgenic maize.