The promoter of a Brassica napus polygalacturonase gene directs pollen expression of β -glucuronidase in transgenic Brassica plants

A 647-bp 5′-flanking fragment obtained from genomic clone Sta 44G(2) belonging to a family of polygalacturonase genes expressed in Brassica napus pollen was fused to the β -glucuronidase (GUS) marker gene. This fusion construct was introduced into B. napus plants via Agrobacterium tumefaciens transformation. Analysis of the transgenic B. napus plants revealed that this promoter fragment is sufficient to direct GUS expression specifically in the anther and that GUS activity increases in pollen during maturation.