Ubiquitin regulatory elements

Abstract

The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions are novel nucleotide sequences for a constitutive regulatory element isolated from sorghum. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the regulatory sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises transforming a plant cell to comprise a heterologous nucleotide sequence operably linked to one or more of the regulatory sequences of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant from the transformed plant cell.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An isolated regulatory element that drives transcription in a constitutive manner, wherein the regulatory element comprises a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:
 a) the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3; and   b) a sequence comprising a functional fragment of the nucleotide sequence set forth in a)   
     
     
         2 . An expression cassette comprising a regulatory element operably linked to a nucleotide sequence wherein the regulatory element comprises the nucleotide sequence of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         3 . A plant stably transformed with an expression cassette of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         4 . The plant of  claim 3 , wherein said plant is a monocot. 
     
     
         5 . The plant of  claim 3 , wherein said monocot is maize, wheat, rice, barley,  sorghum  or rye. 
     
     
         6 . Seed of the plant of  claim 3  wherein the seed comprises the expression cassette. 
     
     
         7 . A method for selectively expressing a nucleotide sequence in a plant cell, the method comprising:
 a) transforming a plant cell with an expression cassette, the expression cassette comprising a regulatory element operably linked to a nucleotide sequence wherein the regulatory element comprises a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:
 i) the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3; and 
 ii) a functional fragment of i); and 
   b) growing the plant cell to selectively express the nucleotide sequence.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the regulatory element initiates expression of the nucleotide sequence in plant tissue. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising regenerating a stably transformed plant from the plant cell; wherein expression of the nucleotide sequence alters the phenotype of a plant. 
     
     
         10 . The plant of  claim 9 , wherein said plant is a monocot. 
     
     
         11 . The plant of  claim 9 , wherein said monocot is maize, wheat, rice, barley,  sorghum  or rye. 
     
     
         12 . Seed of the plant of  claim 9  wherein the seed comprises the expression cassette.