An Arabidopsis cyclin promoter region is active in transgenic maize plants

We have produced transgenic maize carrying Arabidopsis cyclin promoter and β-glucuronidase chimeric fusion (cycBl;lAt::GUS) by direct DNA uptake into embryogenic cell suspension protoplasts to study the activity of this cyclin promoter in a heterologous cell system. The transgenic maize lines exhibiting different levels of reporter gene expression show that regulatory elements from cycB1;1At gene as a dicot promoter can function in maize. Expression patterns revealed by fluorimetric, as well as, histochemical GUS reporter enzymatic assays indicated cell division-dependent expression of the GUS gene driven by this cycBl;At;l promoter with elevated activity in proliferating cells and meristems. Treatment of tissues with inhibitors of mitosis increased the activity of cycB1;1At promoter, that suggests a link between mitotic phase of cell division and activity of cycBl;lAt regulatory elements in transgenic maize.