Abstract:
The present invention is directed to transcription regulators and transcription regulator-like sequences of nanovirus origin. As used in the specification, the nanovirus group is consdiered to include subterranean clover stunt virus (SCSV), cocnut foliar decay virus (CFDV), banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), milk vetch dwarf cirus (MDV), and faba bean necrotic yellow virus (FBNYV). The transcription regulators and transcription regulator-like sequences of the instant invention are useful in genetic engineering of plants and in particular leguminous plants such as to facilitate or control expression of foreign genes. The transcription regulators and transcription regulator-like sequences of the present invention are also useful in facilitating different levels of expression in different plant tissue types.

Description:
The present invention relates generally to a novel range of transcription regulators and transcription regulator-like sequences operable in plants. More particularly, the present invention is directed to transcription regulators and transcription regulator-like sequences of viral origin and, even more particularly, of nanovirus origin The transcription regulators and transcription regulator-like sequences of the instant invention are useful in genetic engineering of plants and in particular leguminous plants such as to facilitate or control expression of foreign genes. The transcription regulators and transcription regulator-like sequences of the present invention are also useful in facilitating different levels of expression in different plant tissue types. 
     Bibliographic details of the publications referred by author in this specification are collected at the end of the description. Sequence Identity Numbers (SEQ ID Nos.) for the nucleotide sequences referred to in the specification are defined following the bibliography. 
     Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element or integer or group of elements or integers but not the exclusion of any other element or integer or group of elements or integers. 
     Transcription regulators are molecules, and generally nucleotide-based molecules, which facilitate and modulate expression of genetic sequences at the level of transcription. Transcription regulators include promoters and termination and polyadenylation sequences amongst other effectors and facilitators of transcription. 
     Promoters are specific nucleotide sequences to which RNA polymerase binds to initiate RNA synthesis in cells. They contain the start site for RNA synthesis and the genetic signals to initiate polymerase mediated RNA synthesis. In addition, sequence specific DNA-binding proteins are presumed either to inhibit or to stimulate the initiation of RNA synthesis by binding next to the promoter and affecting the binding of the polymerase to the promoter. Terminator sequences refer to termination and polyadenylation sequences and are required for transcription of functional mRNAs. Termination sequences are located downstream (i.e. at the 3′ end) of a gene and are recognized by RNA polymerase as a signal to stop synthesizing mRNA. Polyadenylation sequences are signals required for polyadenylation of eukaryotic mRNA molecules following transcription. 
     A viral promoter widely used to facilitate foreign gene expression in plants is the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter (Odell et al, 1985), which is derived from a double-stranded DNA plant virus. The use of this promoter in plants and plant cells is well documented (Benfey and Chua, 1990; Higgins and Spencer, 1991). However, despite the apparent usefulness of this promoter, it is not functional in all plants and is particularly poorly operable in leguminous plants. There is a need, therefore, to identify other promoters, such as of viral origin, which are operable in plants and particularly leguminous plants. There is also a need to modulate levels of expression of genes and other genetic sequences within plant cells. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is directed to a genetic construct comprising a nanovirus promoter or promoter-like sequence and which is operable in a plant cell wherein said nanovirus comprises a multicomponent DNA genome. 
     In a related aspect of the present invention, there is provided a genetic construct comprising a nanovirus promoter or promoter-like sequence and a termination and/or polyadenylation sequence, which sequences are operable in a plant cell. 
     A nanovirus is a non-geminated single stranded (ss) DNA plant virus (Table 1), distinct from caulimoviruses which have a double stranded genome, and geminiviruses, the only other known ssDNA plant viruses, which have geminated particles (Chu et al., 1994). As used herein, the nanovirus group is considered to include subterranean clover stunt virus (SCSV) (Chu and Helms, 1988), banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) (Thomas and Dietzgen, 1991; Harding etal. 1991; 1993; Bums etal. 1993) and milk-vetch dwarf virus (MDV) (Isogai et al. 1992; Sano et al. 1993) and faba bean necrotic yellows virus (FBNYV) (Katul et al., 1993). 
     In a particularly preferred embodiment, the nanovirus contemplated for use in accordance with the present invention comprises more than two DNA components or segments. 
     The present invention is particularly directed and hereinafter described with reference to subterranean clover stunt virus (hereinafter abbreviated to “SCSV”) as a representative of the nanovirus group. This is done, however, with the understanding that reference to SCSV includes reference to all other suitable members of the nanovirus group to which the instant invention extends. Preferred members of the nanovirus group such as SCSV comprise more than two DNA components or segments. Reference hereinafter to “SCSV” also includes and extends to all naturally occurring or artificially induced mutants, derivatives, parts, fragments, homologues or analogues of the virus which still retain at least one suitable promoter and/or termination and/or polyadenylation sequences. 
     Accordingly, a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplates a genetic construct comprising an SCSV promoter or promoter-like sequence and which is operable in a plant cell. 
     A related aspect of the present invention is directed to a genetic construct comprising an SCSV romoter or promoter-like sequence and a termination and/or polyadenylation sequence, which sequences are operable in a plant cell. 
     The term “genetic construct” is used in its broadest sense to include any recombinant nucleic acid molecule such as an isolated nucleic acid molecule, vector, expression vector or binary vector. It may comprise solely the nanovirus promoter or may contain one or more promoters in association with regulatory and/or reporter sequences. 
     The genetic construct may be double or single stranded DNA, in linear or covalently closed circular form. As stated above, it may comprise only the promoter or promoter-like sequence or may carry other heterologous or homologous transcription regulator sequences and/or heterologous structural gene sequences including promoters associated with SCSV. By “homologous” is meant a gene sequence naturally associated with the SCSV promoter. “Heterologous” means a “foreign” gene relative to the promoter or a gene not otherwise normally associated with the SCSV promoter. In a preferred embodiment, the foreign gene is also foreign to SCSV. Examples of foreign genes include genes which facilitate resistance to insects or other pest infestation, enhance resistance to insecticides or herbicides, promote frost resistance, alter flower or petal colour, decrease the rate of senescence, especially in cut flowers, increase or enhance levels of certain proteins and/or ribozmes. More particularly, the foreign genes include: 
     a) a resistance gene against plant viruses, bacteria, fungi, nematode and other pathogens; 
     b) a plant virus resistance gene including a synthetic gene from and against alfalfa mosaic virus, subterranean clover stunt virus, subterranean clover mottle virus, subterranean clover red leaf virus, potato leafroll virus, tomato spotted wilt virus, bean yellow mosaic virus, white clover mosaic virus, clover yellow vein virus, potato viruses x, y, s, m and a, cucumber mosaic virus, rice ragged stunt virus and barley yellow dwarf virus; 
     c) a gene to improve nutritional value of plants such as sunflower high sulphur gene SF8; 
     d) a bloat resistance gene; 
     e) an antibody gene; 
     f) a cereal thionin and ribosome inactivating protein gene; 
     g) an insect resistance gene including BT toxin gene and proteinase inhibitor gene from  Nicotiana alata;    
     h) a selectable marker gene such as those conferring resistance to kanamycin, phosphinothricin, spectinomycin and hygromycin; 
     i) a reporter gene such as GUS, CAT and pigment genes; 
     j) a gene encoding a regulatory protein which modulates expression of a gene in plant cells. 
     The present invention furter contemplates a genetic construct comprising two heterologous genes operably linked to the same or different nanovirus promoters operable in a plant cell. Preferaby the promoter or different promoters are from a nanovirus with a genome comprising more than two components or segments. Most preferably the promoter or different promoters are from SCSV and in particular are selected from segments 1 to 7 of SCSV as defined by SEQ ID NOs. 1 to 7. (See below). 
     The genetic constructs may also comprise a termination or polyadenylation sequence operably linked to one or both of the heterologous genes. In one embodiment, the termination and/or polyadenylation sequence is the same for each gene. In an alternative embodiment the termination and/or polyadenylation sequence is different for each gene. Most preferably the termination and polyadenylation sequence is selected from segments 1 to 7 of SCSV as defined by SEQ ID NOs. 1 to 7 (See below). In yet another embodiment at least one termination and polyadenylation sequence is from the MeA 3 gene of  Flaveria bidentis  (see below). 
     The term “transcription regulator” is used in its broadest sense to include promoters, termination and polyadenylation sequences and other effectors and facilitators of transcription of genetic sequences. As with promoters contemplated by the present inveniton, the termination and polyadenylation sequences may be of SCSV origin and may be naturally associated with a corresponding promoter from SCSV or may be associated with another promoter of SCSV. Alternatively, the termination and/or polyadenylation sequences may be derived from non-SCSV sources. A particularly preferred terminator comprises the 3′ nucleotide sequence of the MeA3 gene of  Flaveria bidentis  which codes for an NADP-malic enzyme of C4 photosynthesis (Hatchi, 1987). The nucleotide sequence of the terminator region of the MeA gene is shown in FIG.  15 . The combination of an SCSV promoter with, for example, the  F. bidentis  MeA gene terminator sequence results in a high level of expression especially in monocotyledonas plants relative to constructs without the terminator sequence. 
     The foreign gene may also be in the antisense orientation so as to facilitate reduced levels of endogenous plant gene products. In this regard, “gene” may be ten base pairs in length, tens of base pairs in length, hundreds of base pairs in length or a fill length or near full length gene but in a reverse orientation relative the promoter. The foreign gene may also be placed in the “isense” orientation for co-suppression of a target gene. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a genetic construct comprising an SCSV promoter or promoter-like sequence operable in a plant cell and at least one restriction endonuclease site downstream of said promoter to facilitate insertion of a heterologous gene such that said gene is operably linked to said promoter. In an alternative embodiment, the genetic construct comprises an SCSV promoter or promoter-like sequence operable in a plant cell and a heterologous gene operably linked to said promoter. In both embodiments, the term “gene” includes those directing the synthesis of oligonucleotides such as those useful in antisense techniques as well as ribozymes. 
     In still a further embodiment of the present invention, there is contemplated a genetic construct comprising an SCSV promoter or promoter-like sequence operable in a plant cell and at least one restriction endonuclease site downstream of said promoter to facilitate insertion of a heterologous gene such that said gene is operably linked to said promoter and a termination and/or polyadenylation sequence positioned such that same sequence is at the 3′ end relative to said heterologous gene to facilitate expression of said heterologous gene. Preferably, the termination sequence is from SCSV. Alternatively, the terminator sequence is from the  F. bidentis  MeA3 gene. 
     Plants contemplated by the present invention include both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous species. The present invention also extends to leguminous and non-leguminous plants although leguminous plants are preferred. 
     The SCSV genome comprises at least seven distinct circular ssDNA components described as segments 1-7. The size of these segments range from about 988 to about 1022 nucleotides. Each of the seven DNA components of SCSV contains one major open reading frame of the viral sense and a non-coding region of various lengths containing a conserved potential stem and loop structure (FIGS. 1 and 2; Table 2). Each trnscription unit contains a typical TATA box and a polyadenylation signal for start and end of transcription, respectively (Table 2). 
     Because the DNAs are circular, the sequences in the non-coding regions comprise the promoters and the terminator signals which vary with different DNA components (Table 2). The TATA boxes and the stem-loops of the two replicase-associated protein genes in segments 2 and 6 are quite different from those of the other genes. In contrast, the stem-loops and TATA boxes are the same in segments 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7. All the DNAs, except those of segments 2 and 6, also share a common sequence (known as the common region) in the non-coding region (FIGS.  1  and  2 ). 
     The present invention, therefore, extends to each of the seven promoters and to termination and polyadenylation sequences on segments 1-7 of SCSV. The nucleotide sequences of segments 1-7 are shown in FIG.  6  and are defined in SEQ ID NOs. 1-7, respectively. 
     Segment 5 was identified as the coat protein gene based on N-terminal amino acid sequence and amino acid composition data (Chu et al., 1993a). Segments 2 and 6 encode proteins containing the characteristic NTP-binding motifs and thus are predicted to be the putative viral replication-associated protein (RAP) genes. The remaining 4 DNA components are unrelated to each other or to segment 2, 5 and 6, based on their distinctive deduced amino acid sequence. The SCSV DNAs have no significant nucleotide sequence homology with the genomes of geminiviruses although some homology exists at the deduced amino acid level. 
     The replicative competency of SCSV has been demonstrated (Chu et al., 1993b). Since the SCSV virion DNA is single-stranded and the transcripts are of viral sense, the first likely biosynthetic event after uncoating is likely to be the synthesis of the replicative form DNA using host DNA polymerase. (The DNAs of SCSV have the ability to self prime in dsDNA synthesis [Chu and Helms, 1988]). Host RNA polymerase is thought to bind to the promoters initiating RNA transcription followed by synthesis of the viral proteins required for virus multiplication. 
     In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is contemplated an SCSV promoter or promoter-like sequence comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from within SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6 and SEQ ID NO: 7 and/or genetic constructs comprising same. 
     A “promoter-like sequence” as used herein includes any finctional mutant, derivative, part, fragment, homologue or analogue of a naturally occurring SCSV promoter. Promoter-like sequences contemplated herein include single or multiple nucleotide substitutions, deletions and/or additions to an SCSV promoter, provided that the said promoter-like sequences retain at least 35%, preferably at least 45%, more preferably at least 55%, even more preferably at least 65-70% and still more preferably at least 85-95% or greater promoter activity compared with the corresponding wild-type SCSV promoter. 
     In yet another embodiment, there is provided a genetic construct comprising an SCSV promoter or promoter-like sequence and which is operable in a plant cell, said promoter or promoter-like sequence corresponding to all or part of any one of SEQ ID NO: 1 to 7 or capable of hybridising under a range of stringency conditions, ranging from high to low stringency conditions to at least one of SEQ ID NO: 1 to 7. Conveniently, a mutant, derivative, part, fragment, homologue or analogue of an SCSV promoter is defined as being functional in a plant cell and capable of hybridising under a range of at least high to low stringency conditions to at least one of SEQ ID NO: 1 to 7. 
     In a particularly preferred embodiment, the genetic construct further comprises a termination and/or polyadenylation sequence from SCSV or from non-SCSV source and which enhances or other facilitates expression of a gene operably linked to said promoter. 
     For the purposes of defming the level of stringency, reference can conveniently be made to Sambrook et al (1989) which is herein incorporated by reference where the washing steps at pages 9.52-9.57 are considered high stringency. A low stringency is defined herein as being in 0.1-0.5% w/v SDS at 37-45° C. for 2-3 hours. Depending on the source and concentration of nucleic acid involved in the hybridisation, alternative conditions of stringency may be employed such as medium stringent conditions which are considered herein to be 0.25-0.5% w/v SDS at ≧45° C. for 2-3 hours or high stringent conditions as disclosed by Sambrook et al (1989). 
     Another embodiment of the present invention contemplates a method of expressing a foreign gene in a plant cell, said method comprising introducing into said plant cell a genetic construct comprising and SCSV promoter or promoter-like sequence operable in said plant cell and operably linked to said foreign gene. In a further embodiment, multiple SCSV promoters are used to drive one or more transgenes without antagonism. In yet a further embodiment, the SCSV promoter is associated with the SCSV segment 2 gene in order to enhance the expression of the foreign gene. In another embodiment, the genetic constructs further comprises one or more termination and/or polyadenylation sequences which are located at the 3′ end of the foreign gene. These sequences enhance or otherwise facilitate expression of the foreign gene. The termination and/or polyadenylation segment may be from SCSV or from another source such as the  F. bidentis  MeA gene. 
     In still yet another embodiment, the present invention contemplates a transgenic plant carrying an SCSV promoter or promoter-like sequence as hereinbefore defined in its genome and optionally a termination and/or polyadenylation sequence to enhance expression of a gene downstream of said promoter. Preferably, the transgenic plant exhibits altered characteristics due to expression of a genetic sequence such as a gene, oligonucleotide or ribozyme downstream of the SCSV promoter. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is further described by reference to the following non-limiting figures and/or examples. Reference herein to a promoter region from SCSV is abbreviated to “S” for SCSV, the genome segment number (e.g. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7) and “nc” for non-coding region. For example, the promoter from SCSV genome segment 1 is defined as “S1nc”. Terminator sequences for particular SCSV genome segments are indicated for example, as follows: “SC1Tr” or “SC5Tr” for the terminator sequences for segments 1 and 5, respectively. Genetic constructs comprising an SCSV promoter, a reporter gene such as GUS and a terminator sequence such as from SCSV is abbreviated to “SCSV:GUS:SCTr” or “SCSV:GUS:SCSVTr”. Specific promoters and termination sequences are defined as above, for example S4nc:GUS:SC1Tr or S4nc:GUS:Me3”, “S4nc:GUS:Me3”. In the latter construct the terminator sequence from the MeA gene of  Flaveria bidentis  is used, referred to herein as “Me3”. 
    
    
     In the Figures: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic representation showing the structures and transcription units found in a representative DNA component of a typical geminivirus and SCSV, both of which contain a ssDNA genome. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic representation showing the seven DNA segments found in the genome of SCSV in a linear form, indicating the positions of the stem-loop structure, the common region, the open reading frame (ORF), the TATA box and the termination and polyadenylation signals on each DNA. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic representation showing the construction of the seven SCSV DNA non-coding region: β-glucuronidase (GUS) fusion expression vectors for transformation into tobacco plants. The amplified PCR fragments were separately cloned in front of the GUS gene in pHW9 at the BamnHI (B) and NcoI (N) sites as indicated. The resultant recombinant pHW9 vectors were cut at the EcoRI site and cloned into the EcoRI site of the recipient PGA470 binary vector. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic representation showing the construction of the segments 5 and 7 promoter:GUS fusion expression vectors and their deletion derivatives for protoplast studies. DNAs corresponding to the fill-length non-coding regions were obtained by PCR and cloned into pKGO in front of GUS by blunt end ligation at the Sal/I site as indicated. The deletion derivatives were obtained by digesting the pKGO clones containing the full-length sequence with HindIII or PstI on the vector and the appropriate restriction enzymes on the SCSV sequence as indicated. The deleted pKGO constructs were religated after end-filling as required. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic representation showing the construction of the recombinant binary pTAB10 vector (pBS150) containing the seg 7 promoter(57nc):GUS fusion gene for transformation into subterranean clover plants. The 57nc:GUS expression cassette was excised. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic representation showing the construction of the recombinant binary pTAB10 vector (pBS150) containing the seg 7 promoter(57nc):GUS fusion gene for transformation into subterranean clover plants. The 57nc:GUSexpression cassette was excised from the pKGO construct (FIG. 4) by digestion with HindIII and BamHI and blunt-end ligated to pTAB10 at the EcoRI site after end-filling the DNAs. 
     FIGS.  6 ( i )- 6 ( xiv ) show the complete nucleotide sequences of the seven SCSV DNA circles (SEQ ID NOS:1 to 7). The arrows underlying the sequence indicate the positions at which amplification primers (Table 8) anneal to the circular SCSV DNA, including the direction of amplification, thereby amplifying a single fragment containing a promoter and terminator/polyadenylation signal for the construction of expression cassettes. 
     FIG. 7 is a copy of a photographic representation showing GUS expression detected by histochemical staining on leaves of transgenic tobacco and subterranean clover transformed with the SCSV seg 7 promoter(S7nc):GUS fusion expression cassette. 
     FIGS. 8A to  8 F are photographic representations of histochemical staining for GUS activity in transgenic plants—bright field. Bright field exposures of stained leaf pieces (L), stem sections (S), roots (R) and pollen (P) from tobacco plants transformed with the GUS fusion constructs containing the SCSV promoter regions from segments 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7 referred to as S1nc, S3nc, S4nc, S5nc and S7nc promoter regions and from non-transformed plants (NT). Blue colouration indicates GUS expression. Each leaf, stem or root piece represents an independent transformant (except the top two root pieces of S5nc which could not be separated easily) and the pollen samples were mixtures from two or more transformants. FIG. 8 a  shows differential expression of GUS in plants transformed with either S4nc or S5nc regions compared to a non-transformed plant (NT). 
     FIGS. 9A to  9 E are photographic representations showing histochemical staining for GUS activity in transgenic plants—dark field. Transverse (T) and longitudinal(L) thin sections of stained, embedded stem pieces from tobacco plants transformed with the GUS fusion constructs containing the component 1 (S1nc), 3 (S3nc), 4 (S4nc), 5 (S5nc), and 7 (S7nc) promoter regions, viewed with a dark field. Pink crystals indicate GUS expression. The stem pieces used. 
     FIG. 10 is a graphical representation of a fluorometric assay for GUS expression. Fluorometric assay results from leaf extracts of tobacco plants transformed with the GUS fusion constructs containing the component 1 (S1nc), 3 (S3nc), 4, (S4nc), 5 (S5nc), and 7 (S7nc) promoter regions. Each column represents an independent transformant. GUS activities were measured with a Labsystems Fluoroskan at 5 or 10 minute intervals over 60 minutes (or 30 minutes for S4nc) using 4-methylumbelliferyl β-D-glucuronide (MUG) as the substrate. The rates of GUS activity are expressed as fluorometric units (Fl.U.) per minute per mg of protein. 1000 Fl.U is approximately equal to 825 pmoles of 4-methylumbelliferone (MU). 
     FIG. 11 is a is a schematic representation showing the SCSV segment 2 promoter (S2nc) construct. A franent of segment 2 DNA from NcoI-XbaI was fuised to the promoterless GUS vector, pKGO. Pr, promoter; seg 2, segment 2 of SCSV. 
     FIGS. 12 a  and  12   b  are schematic representations showing constructs of SCSV:GUS:SCSV Tr expression vectors. The termination/polyadenylation sequences for segment 3 of SCSV (SC3Tr) and segment 5 (SC5Tr) were amnplified by PCR and cut with the respective restriction enzymes and then cloned into recombinant pKGO vector as indicated. The SC3Tr construct was cloned as an EcoRI-XhoI fragment into the pKGo vector containing S1nc:GUS:OCS3′ to make S1nc:GUS:SC3Tr. The SSC5TR construct was made as an EcoRV fiagment into Vector pKGO containing S4nc:Gus:OCS3′ to make S4nc:GUS:S5Tr. 
     FIGS. 13A to  13 D are photographic representations showing GUS expression in potato plant tissues directed by the SCSV segment 4 promoter (S4nc). A. stem; B, leaf, C. stolon; and D. tuber. 
     FIG. 14 is a photographic representation of GUS expression in cotton leaf directed by the SCSV segment 7 promoter (S7nc). 
     FIGS.  15 (a)- 15 (b) show the nucelotide sequence of the MeA3&#39;s terminator sequence of the  Flaveria bidentis  MeA gene (Me3) set forth in SEQ ID NO: 8. The stop codon is located at the beginning of the sequence. This sequence was engineered in the Chimeric construct to include an EcoR1 site: GAATTCGTTTAG. . . . The chimeric constructs thus contained a sequence begining AATTCGTTTAG. 
     FIG. 16 is a diagramatic representation of GUS expression vectors (ME20 and ME29) containing the indicated  Flaveria bidentis  MeA gene regulatory elements. 
     FIG. 17 is a diagramatic representation of the construction of S4nc plasmid pBS237 containing the expression cassette S4nc:GUS:Me3′. Plasinid pBS218 was digested with EcoR1 to remove OCS3′ region and ligated with an EcoR1. 
     FIG. 18 is a diagramatic representation of the construction of plasmid pBS246 containing the S1nc:nptII:SC3Tr expression cassette. The Sa1I-Sa1I fragment is approximately 8.5-9 khp; B L  is about 0.5 kbp; B R  is about 0.6 khp. SC1nc:nptII:SC3Tr is about 1.7 khp. 
     FIG. 19 a-c  are diagramatic representations of the construction of plasmid pKHAN4 from pKHAN2 and pKSB.bar1. pKHAN4: A HindIII-EcoR1 segment containing S7nc (572 bp), nptII coding region (978 bp) and vicillin 3′ end (276bp) from pKHAN2 was inserted into binary plasmid pKSB.bar1 to yield pKHAN4; pKHAN2. The nptII coding region (978bp, BamHI-Sma1 fragment) from p35SKN was cloned into Asp718 site (blunted with klenow fragment) of pKHAN1 to create pKHAN 2. SCSV Pro=S7nc; pKSB. Bar 1: pTAB10.MCSori1B digested with EcoR1 as ligated together. 
     FIG. 20 is a photographic representation of a selection of Kananmycin resistant tobacco plants on regeneration medium transformed with binary vectors containing either 35S promoter:NPTII:35S terminator sequence (35SPrm:NPTII:35STrm) or S1nc:NPTII:SC3Tr expression cassette. (In the Figures, the abbreviations are 35S Prm NPTII35STrm and SC1 Prm NPTII Sc3 Trm, respectively. 
     FIG. 21 is a diagramatic representation of a cloning vector utilising SCSV DNA transcription regulatory signals. 
     FIG. 22 is a diagramatic representation of SCSV segment 2 dimer construct pBS2. This construct was created by cloning a tandem repeat of the SCSV segment 2 DNA (containing a whole functional seg 2 transcription unit) into the polylinker site of pGEM7 which was then cloned into a reduced version of the pMCP3 binary vector (Khan et al., 1994). 
     A summary of the trascription activities facilitated by the SCSV transcription regulatory elements is shown in Table 19. 
    
    
     EXAMPLE 1 
     SCSV DNA Sequence Determination 
     The F isolate of SCSV (Chu et al. 1993a) was used for sequence determination. Full-length clones of the SCSV genome components were created from the replicative form (RF) DNA as described by Chu et al. (1993a). Other clones were created from the RF by PCR with SCSV specific primers designed from known sequences. 
     The dideoxy chain termination method (Sanger et al., 1977) was used to sequence either M13 ssDNA templates (Sambrook et al., 1989) or dsDNA templates prepared by the CTAB method (Del Sal et al., 1989) from clones described above. Sequence analysis was carried out using the University of Wisconsin Genetics Computer Group Sequence Analysis Software Package (Devereaux et al., 1984). 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     Plasmid Construction 
     DNA manipulation techniques used were as described by Sambrook et al. (1989). The entire non-coding regions of all 7 DNA segments of SCSV were amplified by PCR using specific primers (See Table 8) with appropriate restriction enzyme recognition sites for cloning into the plasmid vectors. The amplified DNA fragments were separately cloned into the respective expression vectors upstream of a promoterless GUS reporter gene in the appropriate orientation to produce the SCSV promoter-GUS fusion constructs as shown in the FIGS. 3 and 4. The expression vector pHW9 (FIG. 3) followed by cloning into the binazy vector pGA470 (An et al., 1985) were used for tobacco transformation. The expression vector pKGO was used for GUS expression in protoplasts (FIG. 4) and the binary vector pTAB10 was used for subterranean clover transformation (FIG.  5 ). pKGO was constructed by cloning the XhoI fragment of pKIWI101 (Janssen and Gardner, 1989) containing the GUS gene and the OCS terminator sequence into the Sal/I site of pJKKm (Kirschman and Cramer, 1988). Corresponding plasmids containing the 35S promoter fused to GUS were used as controls. The junctions of the clones were checked by sequencing. A promoterless GUS construct was used as a control. 
     Deletion derivatives of the SCSV segments 5 and 7 promoters were made by digesting the full-length non-coding sequence with an appropriate enzyme to produce the desired deletion (FIG.  4 ). 
     To investigate the phenomenon of transactivation, the S5nc:GUS expression cassette was excised from recombinant pKGO constructs and cloned into a pGEM plasmid containing the seg 2 RAP coding region expressed from the 35S promoter. The resultant plasmid canying both the SCSV promoter:GUS and the 35S promoter:seg 2 RAP expression cassettes were electroporated into protoplasts. 
     EXAMPLE 3 
     Protoplast Isolation and Transient Gene Expression 
     Recombinant plasmids were extracted from  E. coli  by alkaline lysis followed by purification through Qiagen columns as described in the Qiagen Plasmid Handbook. 
     Suspension cell cultures were used to isolate  Nicotiana-plumbaginifolia  (Last et al. 1991) and subterranean clover cv. Woogenellup protoplasts (Chu et al. 1 993b). Purified plasmids were electroporated into protoplasts of subterranean clover or  Nicotiana-plumbaginifolia  as described by Taylor and Larkin (1988). Protoplasts were harvested 3 days later and assayed fluorometrically for transient GUS activity using 4-methyl umbelliferyl β-glucuronide as substrate (see below). All experiments were done using duplicate samples per treatment. 
     EXAMPLE 4 
     Transformation of Tobacco with SCSV-promoter-GUS Fusion Constructs 
     The recombinant pGA470 binary constructs containing the various SCSV promoter:GUS expression cassettes were separately transformed into  Agrobacterium tumefaciens  strain LBA4404 (Hoekema et al. 1983) by electroporation as described by Nagel et al. (1990).  Nicotiana tobacum  cv. Wisconsin 38 were transformed and regenerated as described by Ellis et al. (1987). 
     EXAMPLE 5 
     Transformation of Subterranean Clover with SCSV-promoter-GUS Fusion construct 
     The recombinant pTAB10 binary vector containing the S7nc:GUS fusion construct (pBS150) was transformed into  Agrobacterium tumefaciens  strain AGL1 (Lazo et al. 1991) by triparental mating (Ditta et al. 1980). Subterranean clover cv. Larisa was transformed by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and regenerated as described by Khan et al. (1994). 
     EXAMPLE 6 
     GUS Assays 
     Protoplasts were lysed by sonication in the presence of 0.3% v/v Triton X-100 immediately after harvest. GUS activity of the soluble extract was determined in a fluorometric assay using the substrate 4-methyl umbelliferyl β-D-glucuronide (MUG) (Jefferson et al., 1987). Fluorescence was measured using a Labsystem Fluoroskan II spectrophotometer. 
     GUS expression in intact trnnsgenic tissues was detected by histochemical staining in 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-β-glucuronic acid (X-gluc) (Jefferson et al., 1987) and by fluorometric assay of the soluble extract using MUG. 
     EXAMPLE 7 
     Sequence of SCSV non-coding Region 
     The complete sequences of all the 7 known SCSV DNA circles have been determined (FIG.  6 ). Each DNA contains a non-coding region with signals (TATA boxes) for promoter activity (Table 2). These sequences have not been described or isolated before. Sequence comparison of the non-coding regions comprising these promoters showed that segments 3 and 5 are most similar, sharing 258 conserved nucleotides out of an average of 491 nucleotides in the non-coding regions of the DNAs. Segments 3, 4, 5 and 7 contain 170 conserved bases between them while only 152 bases are conserved between Segments 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7. The sequence variations in the non-coding regions of the SCSV DNAs suggest that the transcription and replication of the different SCSV genes may be regulated differently. 
     EXAMPLE 8 
     Transient Activity of SCSV Promoters in Protoplasts 
     The promoter activities of two SCSV DNA non-coding regions have been demonstrated directly by transient expression of GUS using SCSV promoter:GUS fusion constructs in subterranean clover (Table 3) and tobacco protoplasts (Table 4). These results showed that both segment 5 and segment 7 promoters are fimctional in the absence of other SCSV DNA components. The SCSV promoters are also finctional in protoplasts of either a natural host (subterranean clover) or a non host (tobacco). In tobacco protoplasts, the segment 7 promoter was similar in activity to the 35S promoter while the segment 5 (coat protein) promoter consistently showed activity about half that of the CaMV 35S promoter (Table 4). However, the activity of both promoters were higher in subterranean clover protoplasts, with the activity of the segment 7 promoter showing up to several times that of the 35S promoter (Table 3), suggesting that SCSV promoters work better in certain legumes than te widely used 35S promoter. The activity of the segment 7 promoter also appeared to be more variable in subterranean clover protoplasts than the others tested. 
     Plasmids containing various deletion derivatives of the non-coding sequence of segments 5 and 7 fused to GUS were also constructed (FIG. 4) and electroporated into protoplasts (Table 5). GUS assays of protoplasts transfected with these constructs showed that neither the stem-loop nor the common region were necessary for promoter activity although the latter was required for flill activity (Table 5). The DNA sequence required for high level promoter activity appears to be less than 300 bp which is smaller than that required for other promoters, such as 35S promoter (Odell et al., 1985). 
     EXAMPLE 9 
     Transactivation of SCSV Promoter Activity by SCSV Segment 2 Gene Product 
     When co-electroporated with a 35S promoter:seg 2 RAP gene construct, the activities of GUS driven by the seg 5 promoter apparently increased by about 2 fold in both subterranean clover and tobacco protoplasts (Table 6). The segment 7 promoter activity may also be increased when co-electroporated with the 35S:seg 2 RAP construct but further experiments are needed to confirm this. 
     Transactivation of GUS activity was also apparently observed when the S5nc:GUS construct was co-electroporated with a binary vector plasmid (pBS2) containing a tandem repeat (dimer) of the segment 2 DNA (Table 6). A map of SCSV segment 2 dimer construct -pBS2 is shown in FIG.  22 . This construct was created by cloning a tandem repeat of the SCSV segment 2 DNA (containing a whole finctional seg 2 transcription unit) into the polylinker site of pGEM7 which was then cloned into a reduced version of the pMCP3 binary vector (Khan et al., 1994). The results suggest that both SCSV promoters are expressed concurrently. Thus, different SCSV promoters can either be used in combination with a 35S promoter or be used simultaneously to facilitate concurrent expression of multiple transgenes in plants. In contrast, reduced transgene activity has been observed when the 35S promoter is used in multiple or multiple copy transgenes (Linn et al., 1990; Matzke and Matzke, 1991; Scheid et al., 1991; Carvalho et al., 1992). 
     EXAMPLE 10 
     Activity of SCSV Promoters in Transgenic Plants 
     All the SCSV promoters, except those from segments 2 and 6, have been shown to be capable of driving expression of transgenes in tobacco plants (FIG.  7 ). The level of activity of the promoters measured by the MUG assay varied from plant to plant and from one promoter to another but is generally lower than that of the 35S promoter (Table 7). 
     Histochemical staing of intact transgenic tobacco tissues showed that the activity of the S4nc promoter appears to be constitutive and GUS activity was detected in all plant organs. The others are generally restricted to the vascular tissues although expression is also detected in pollen. 
     In transgenic subterranean clover plants expressing the S7nc:GUS gene construct, histochemical staining showed that GUS activity is found in leaves, stems and petioles. The distribution of GUS activity is mostly constitutive although in some tissues, the activity is largely in vascular tissues (FIG.  7 ). In these plants, the level of promoter activity also varies from plant to plant but the activity is generally comparable to that of the 35S promoter. 
     These results indicate that the SCSV promoters provide a choice of promoters that can be used either independently or simultaneously to control the expression of one or more foreign genes in a wide range of plants and tissue types. Legumes are a major target for application. The activity of these promoters also can be enhanced by the presence of the seg 2 gene product. Thus, these promoters appear to have significant advantages over the CaMV 35S promoter, both in levels of expression, size and in overcoming some negative features of the 35S promoter. They would be applicable in a wide range of transgenic applications. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Properties of plant viruses with small and multiple encapsidated 
               
               
                 circular ssDNAs (Plant Nanoviruses) 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Coat 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 No. of 
                   
                 protein 
               
               
                 Virus 
                 Hosts 
                 Vector 
                 circles 
                 Size (kb) 
                 (kDa) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 FBNYV 
                 Legumes 
                 Aphids 
                 2+ 
                 1 
                 22 
               
               
                 MDV 
                 Legumes 
                 Aphids 
                 1+ 
                 1 
                 21 
               
               
                 SCSV 
                 Legumes 
                 Aphids 
                 7   
                 1 
                 19 
               
             
          
           
               
                 BBTV 
                 Monocots 
                 Aphids 
                 6+ 
                 1-1.2 
                 20 
               
             
          
           
               
                 CFDV 
                 Monocots 
                 Planthopper 
                 1+ 
                 1.3 
                 25 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Compiled from data presented at the Sixth International Congress of Plant Pathology, Montreal, July, 1993. FBNYV=faba bean necrotic yellow virus, MDV=milk vetch dwarf virus, SCSV=subterranean clover stunt virus, BBTV=banana bunchy top virus, CFDV=coconut foliar decay virus. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Transcription units and putative gene functions of the SCSV DNA segments 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Non-Coding 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 DNA 
                 Size 
                 Segment 
                 Region 
                 TATA Box 
                 ORF 
                 Termination 
                 Polyadenylation 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Segment 
                 (bases) 
                 Function 
                 (bases) 
                 Pos a   
                 Sequence 
                 Pos b   
                 # aa 
                 Mr (kDa) 
                 Codon 
                 Signal 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1 
                 1001 
                 Unknown 
                 661 
                 201 
                 TATAAAT c   
                 48 
                 112 
                 12.7 
                 TGA f   
                 AATTAT h   
               
               
                 2 
                 1022 
                 Replication 
                 178 
                  −8 
                 TATATAT d   
                 102  
                 280 
                 32.5 
                 TGA f   
                 AATAAA i   
               
               
                 3 
                  991 
                 Unknown 
                 495 
                 326 
                 TATAAAT c   
                 57 
                 164 
                 19.1 
                 TGA f   
                 AATAAA i   
               
               
                 4 
                 1002 
                 Unknown 
                 539 
                 285 
                 TATAAAT c   
                 71 
                 153 
                 17.7 
                 TAA g   
                 AATAAA i   
               
               
                 5 
                  998 
                 Coat protein 
                 487 
                 330 
                 TATAAAT c   
                 48 
                 169 
                 18.7 
                 TAA g   
                 AATAAA i   
               
               
                 6 
                 1017 
                 Replication 
                 158 
                  −7 
                 AATATAA e   
                 66 
                 285 
                 33.5 
                 TGA f   
                 AATAAA i   
               
               
                 7 
                  988 
                 Unknown 
                 546 
                 324 
                 TATAAAT c   
                 67 
                 146 
                 16.9 
                 TAA f   
                 AATAAA i   
               
               
                   
               
               
                   a Position of the TATA box is the number of bases from the first nucleotide of the stem-loop to and including the first base of the TATA box. See FIG. 1 for a graphic presentation of the genome segments;  
               
               
                   b Position of the ORF is the number of bases from the first base of the TATA box to and including the first base of the initiation codon;  
               
               
                   c SEQ ID NO: 9;  
               
               
                   d SEQ ID NO: 10;  
               
               
                   e SEQ ID NO: 11;  
               
               
                   f SEQ ID NO: 12;  
               
               
                   g SEQ ID NO: 13;  
               
               
                   h SEQ ID NO: 14;  
               
               
                   i SEQ ID NO: 15.  
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 SCSV promoter directed GUS activity in subterranean clover protoplasts 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 GUS Activities 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 Expt 1 
                 Expt 2 
                 Average 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Treatments 
                 Act 
                 % 35S 
                 Act 
                 % 35S 
                 % 35S 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 No DNA 
                 10 
                 0% 
                 13.1 
                 0% 
                 0% 
               
               
                   
                 35S:GUS 
                 27.3 
                 100% 
                 36.6 
                 100% 
                 100% 
               
               
                   
                 S5nc:GUS 
                 22.6 
                 73% 
                 40.2 
                 116% 
                 95% 
               
               
                   
                 S7nc:GUS 
                 36 
                 147% 
                 117 
                 385% 
                 266% 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     All experiments were done using duplicate samples per treatment. GUS activity was measured using a Labsystem Fluoroskan II spectrophotometer and is presented both in absolute activity (Act) and as a percentage of 35S:GUS activity (%35S). 
     constructs are represented as “promoter:reporter gene”. For example, “35S:GUS” is the 35S promoter and the GUS reporter gene. “S5nc” and “S7nc” are the promoters for segments 5 and 7, respectively of SCSV. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 4 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 SCSV promoter directed GUS activity in tobacco protoplasts 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 GUS Activities 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 Expt 1 
                 Expt 2 
                 Average 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Treatments 
                 Act 
                 % 35S 
                 Act 
                 % 35S 
                 % 35S 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 No DNA 
                 13.8 
                 0% 
                 10.5 
                 0% 
                 0% 
               
               
                   
                 35S:GUS 
                 113 
                 100% 
                 117 
                 100% 
                 100% 
               
               
                   
                 S5nc:GUS 
                 52.3 
                 39% 
                 61 
                 48% 
                 44% 
               
               
                   
                 S7nc:GUS 
                 93 
                 80% 
                 106 
                 90% 
                 85% 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     All experiments were done using duplicate samples per treatment. GUS activity was measured using a Labsystem Fluoroskan II spectrophotometer and is presented both in absolute activity (Act) and as a percentage of 35S:GUS activity (%35S). 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 5 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Promoter activities (GUS expression levels) of deletion derivatives 
               
               
                 of segment 5 and 7 non-coding regions in protoplasts. 
               
               
                 Levels are expressed as percentages of the activity of the 
               
               
                 respective full-length non-coding sequence. 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 GUS Activity 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Tobacco 
                 Subclover 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Promoter 
                 Deletion a   
                 Expt 1 
                 Expt 2 
                 Expt 1 
                 Expt 2 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Segment 5 
                 dNde 
                 101 
                 110 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 dPml (stem-loop) 
                 65 
                 88 
                 — 
                 — 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 dAfl (Stem-loop + 
                 70 
                 102 
                 63 
                 91 
               
               
                   
                 common region) 
               
               
                   
                 dPst 
                 5 
                 18 
                 6 
                 4 
               
               
                 Segment 7 
                 dAfl (stem-loop + 
                 50 
                 55 
                 67 
                 39 
               
               
                   
                 common region) 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   1 See FIG. 4 for maps of deletion derivatives.  
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 6 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Transactivation of segment 5 promoter activity (GUS expression) 
               
               
                 in tobacco and subterranean clover protoplasts by gene product 
               
               
                 of segment 2. 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 GUS Activity 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Promoter Construct 
                 Protoplasts 
                 Expt 1 
                 Expt 2 
                 Expt 3 
                 Expt 4 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 S5nc:GUS 
                 Tobacco 
                 100 
                 100 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                 S5nc:GUS + 
                 Tobacco 
                 262 
                 217 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                 35S:Seg 2 RAP 
               
               
                 S5nc:GUS 
                 Subclover 
                 100 
                 100 
                 100 
                 100 
               
               
                 S5nc:GUS + 
                 Subclover 
                 132 
                 176 
                 188 
                 770 
               
               
                 35S:Seg 2 RAP 
               
               
                 S5nc:GUS + 
                 Subclover 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 320 
               
               
                 Seg 2 dimer b   
               
               
                   
               
               
                   a GUS activities are expressed as percentages of the S5nc:GUS construct in each experiment  
               
               
                   b See Example 9  
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 7 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Relative GUS activity in leaf extracts of independent transgenic 
               
               
                 tobacco plants containing different promoter:GUS constructs 
               
               
                 as determined by fluorometric assays a   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Promoter 
                 GUS Activity 
                 Average 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Non transgenic control 
                 123 
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 Average 
                   
                 123 
               
               
                   
                 35S 
                 #3 
                 38,431 
               
               
                   
                   
                 #6 
                 20,052 
               
               
                   
                   
                 #8 
                 20,648 
               
               
                   
                   
                 #11 
                 28.325 
               
               
                   
                   
                 #12 
                 24,700 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Average 
                   
                 26,431 
               
               
                   
                 S4nc 
                 #1 
                 7,229 
               
               
                   
                   
                 #2 
                 4,690 
               
               
                   
                   
                 #5B 
                 4,300 
               
               
                   
                   
                 #9 
                 6,218 
               
               
                   
                   
                 #18 
                 4,895 
               
               
                   
                   
                 #19 
                 6,098 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Average 
                   
                 5,572 
               
               
                   
                 S7nc 
                 #4 
                 642 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Average 
                   
                 642 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   1 GUS activity presented is the best 25% of the transgenic plants tested.  
               
             
          
         
       
     
     EXAMPLE 11 
     Further Characterisation of SCSV Promoter Activities in Transgenic Plants 
     Transgenic plants of tobacco transformed with the five (Segments 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7) SCSV promoter:GUS fusion cassettes were assayed for GUS activity by both histochemical (FIGS. 8 and 9) and fluorometric assays (FIG.  10 ). Samples taken from tissue-cultured and young glasshouse-grown plants produced the same GUS expression pattern. GUS activity was observed in all plant parts, including roots, stems, leaves, petioles and all flower parts. Promoter 5 construct gave relative lower GUS expression in pollen than other promoters. The results from fluorometric assays confirmed previous data showing that segment 4 promoter was the highest expressor, with activity 10-fold or greater than the rest (FIG.  10 ), but is still lower than that of the 35S promoter. The expression levels of the segment 1, 3, 5 and 7 promoters were comparable to those of the phloem-specific promoter roIC in tobacco (Schmulling et al., 1989; Sugaya et al., 1989). Plants transformed with the promoterless GUS construct did not express GUS by either assay method. Histochemical assays showed that expression of all promoter constructs was the highest in vascular tissues, with high expressors being more constitutive than low expressors which are more vascular-limited (FIG.  8 ). In general, promoter 1, 3, 5 and 7 constructs are expressed mostly in the vascular tissues. In particular, GUS expression by promoter 1 and 3 constructs are mainly restricted to phloem tissues. However, for all promoters histochemical staining of leaves showed that GUS expression in these tissues are often blotchy (constitutive and vascular-limted) and variable between leaves of the same plant. Dark field microscopy (Jacobsen-Lyon et al., 1995) also showed that none are strictly vascular-limited (FIG.  9 ). 
     Twenty primary transgenic subterranean clover plants expressing the seg 7 promoter:GUS gene were further characterised by histochemical assays (Table 9). These assays showed that GUS activity was observed in all plant parts, including roots, stems, leaves and petioles. GUS expression was the highest in vascular tissues, with some leaves being more constitutive and blotchy than other organs and high GUS expressing plants being more constitutive than low expressing ones. Samples taken from tissue-cultured and glasshouse-grown plants produced the same GUS expression pattern. 
     EXAMPLE 12 
     Detection of Promoter Activity in SCSV Segment 2 DNA 
     Experiments showed that the non-coding regions from the SCSV segments 2 and 6 DNAs were unable to drive the expression of GUS gene in transgenic tobacco. These regions are only 179 and 159 nucleotides long, respectively, and it is likely that additional sequences are required for promoter activity. To test this hypothesis, a new segment 2 promoter sequence was constructed consisting of the DNA fragment from nucleotides 526 to 46 and fused to the promoterless GUS vector pKGO (FIG.  11 ). The fusion construct was electroporated into tobacco protoplasts. Gus activity was detected in electroporated tobacco protoplasts at levels similar to that of segment 5 promoter:GUS construct (Table 10). 
     A binary vector containing the above SRnc promoter:GUS fusion DNA was also transformed into tobacco plants as described in Example 4. Histochemical staining of several transformed tobacco plants showed that GUS expression was mainly vascular. These results showed that additional sequence from the SCSV segment 2 DNA coding region is necessary for promoter function. Since the SCSV segment 6 is a variant of the segment 2, it is expected that a similar construct comprising the noncoding and part of the coding region of this DNA will produce an active promoter. Thus, all SCSV promoters are expected to be suitable for driving gene expression in plants. 
     EXAMPLE 13 
     Enhancement of Gene Expression by SCSV Transcription Termination and Polyadenylation Signals 
     Effective gene expression requires not only a promoter, but also specific nucleotide sequences at the 3′ end of the coding region of the gene, known as the termination and polyadenylation signals (Messing et al., 1983; Joshi 1987b; Gil and Proudfoot, 1984; Rothnie et al., 1994). These special sequences are required to signal the RNA polymerase to stop transcription and to allow further processing of the RNA transcript. The activity of the termination and polyadenylation signals may affect the transcription efficiency and stability of the RNA being transcribed. Some widely used termination/polyadenylation sequences include those from the NOS aepicker et al., 1982), OCS (Janssen and Gardner, 1989) and CaMV 35S (Pietrzak et al., 1986) genes. 
     Each of the SCSV DNA segment (or component) contained a terminator sequence comprising a termination and a polyadenylation signal sequence in the noncoding region (Table 11). To demonstrate activity of the termination/polyadenylation signals in SCSV DNA, GUS expression vectors containing either the segment 3 or segment 5 polyadenylation and termination signal (FIG. 12) was constructed and subjected to transient expression in tobacco protoplasts. The respective terminator sequence was amplified by PCR with several restriction sites incorporated into the primers (FIG.  12 ). The amplified terminator fragments were cut with the indicated restriction enzymes and cloned into the pKGO recombinant plasmid containing either S1nc or S4nc promoter:GUS:OCS3′ constructs, from which the OCS3′ sequence has been deleted (FIG.  12 ). The resultant S1nc:GUS:SC3Tr (the segment 1 promoter here carries a deletion of the HindIII fragment from nucleotides 641-782 which has no effect on GUS activity) and S4nc:GUS:S5Tr constructs were electroporated into tobacco protoplasts and assayed for GUS activity. The results showed that GUS activity was increased 2 to 3-fold when the SCSV termination/polyadenylation sequence was used instead of the commonly used OCS termination/polyadenylation sequence in the same construct (Table 12). In the same experiment, the construct S1nc:GUS:S3Tr produced over two-fold higher activity than the 35S:GUS:OCS3′ construct (Table 12). These results indicate that each of the SCSV DNA components contains a different termination and polyadenylation signal sequence which can be used in various combination with the SCSV promoters to regulate and/or enhance expression of foreign genes in plants. As with the SCSV promoter sequences, the SCSV termination/polyadenylation sequences are advantageous over currently available termination/polyadenylation sequences by their small sizes (160-170 nucleotides) and the availability of a broad range of transcription regulators with different strengths and tissue specificities for genetic manipulation. The results also show that the use of a SCSV promoter in combination with a SCSV terminator sequence in higher levels of gene expression than constructs using the 35S promoter in conjunction with one of the common transcription terminator sequences. 
     EXAMPLE 14 
     Activity of SCSV Promoters in Transgenic Potato Plants 
     pGA470 binary vector containing the S4nc:GUS:NOS fusion construct cloned in pHW9 (FIG. 3) was used to transform potato plants. pHW9 is derived from pHW8 (Dolferus et al., 1994) into which the polylinker from pGEM3zf(+) is inserted. The recombinant binary vector was transformed into  Agrobacterium tumefaciens  strain LBA4404 by electroporation (Nagel et al., 1990). Potato cultivars Atlantic and Sebago were transformed and regenerated essentially as described by Wenzler et al. (1989) except for the following modifications. Stem pieces instead of leaf pieces were used for transformation and 10 mg/l of benzylaminopurine (BAP) instead of 2.24 mg/l was used during co-cultivation. After co-cultivation, stage 1 medium is supplemented with 100 mg/l of cefotaxime and not kanamycin or carbenicillin. Stage II medium contained 2 mg/l BAP, 5 mg/l GA3, 100 mg/l kanamycin and 100 mg/l cefotaxime. 
     Six transformed plants comprising 5 of cultivar Atlantic and 1 of cultivar Sebago were transferred and grown in the glasshouse for 10-11 weeks until small tubers formed. Tissues from different parts of the plants were assayed by histochemical GUS staining. The results showed that GUS was highly expressed in all plant parts including roots, stolons, tubers, stems and leaves but the expression was predominantly vascular, including cambium, phloem elements and some xylem elements (FIG.  13 ). As in other transgenic hosts, GUS expression in non-vascular tissues of highly GUS active plant materials, especially young tubers, was more evident than in less active tissues when compared with plants transformed with a 35S:GUS:NOS construct, SCSV promoter directed GUS expression in tubers was at least as high as that of the 35S:GUS construct. 
     EXAMPLE 15 
     Activity of SCSV Segment 7 Promoter in Transgenic Cotton Plants 
     pGA470 binary vector containing S7nc:GUS:NOS fusion construct cloned in pHW9 was used to transform cotton plants. The recombinant binary vector was transformed into  Agrobacterium tumefaciens  strain AGL1 by triparental mating. Cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum ) cv. coker 315 was transformed and regenerated as described by Cousins et al. (1991). 
     Transformed plants were grown in the glasshouse and leaf tissues from 18 independent transgenic plants were assayed for GUS activity by histochemical staining. GUS activity varied between plants. Five of these plants showed strong GUS expression, similar in range to 35S promoter driven GUS expression and was predominantly in the vascular tissues (FIG.  14 ). GUS activity was especially strong in the gossypol glands. As in other trnnsgenic hosts, GUS staining in highly expressed tissues were also constitutive. 
     A variety of tissues from these plants were then stained and vascular expression was observed in all organs including roots, stems, petioles, petals and other vascularised floral parts. Expression appears to be particularly high in young flower buds. Seedlings from one of the lines was screened for GUS activity. All 10 progenies stained heavily in roots and leaves indicating that the gene was inherited and that the line probably contained more than one independent insertion site. 
     EXAMPLE 16 
     Stability of Transformed SCSV Promoter: GUS Expression Cassette in Transgenic Plants 
     The stability of GUS expression driven by the various SCSV promoters in transgenic tobacco and subclover were fuirther characterised in T1 generation seedlings of subterranean clover and tobacco plants. 
     In tobacco, T1 seedlings from 10 independent transgenic lines were assayed by histochemical staining. The results showed that the expression of the GUS gene driven by all the five (segments 1,3,4,5 and 7) promoters was stable in the T1 seedlings, with the pattern of expression being maintained in all cases between T0 and T1 plant tissues of the same age. In very young stems where the vascular tissues are not well differentiated, expression from all promoters were very high and was detected through out the stem tissues. Gradual vascular limitation occurs with age and with increasing differentiation of the vascular bundles. As with T0 plants, the segment 4 promoter mediated GUS expression was more constitutive than others. 
     Fifty 2-3 month old T1 seedlings from 15 independent transgenic subclover plants expressing the S7nc:GUS fusion construct were assayed for GUS activity by histochemical and fluorometric assays. The results showed that the expression of the GUS gene driven by the segment 7 promoter was stable in T1 seedlings, with the pattern of expression being maintained between T0 and T1 plant tissues of the same age. GUS expression was found to generally segregate at the expected ratio of 3:1. The preliminary results from fluorometric assays confirmed the histochemical data suggesting that this segnient 7 promoter construct had GUS activity somewhat lower than that of the 35S promoter in leaves and petioles (Table 13). GUS activity in subterranean clover s tems, however, was 3-fold higher than in petioles and 6fold higher than in leaves (Table 14). The age of the plants at the time of assay was 2 to 3 months. 
     EXAMPLE 17 
     Transient Activity of SCSV Promoter in Soybean Leaves 
     The SCSV promoter:GUSconstruct used (Table 15) was derived from the promoterless GUS plasmid pKGO (FIG. 4; pJKKmf(−) K1W1 GUS:OCS) described previously while the 35S promoter:GUS construct was pGUS. pGUS is derived by cloning the Gus gene from pKIWI101 into the plant expression vector pDH51 (Pietrzak et al., 1986). 
     For transient GUS expression in soybean tissues, the GUS constructs were introduced into tissues tissues by particle bombardment using the Bio-Rad Biolistic PDS-1000/He Particle Delivery System as above. A 50 μl suspension containing 3 mg of a 1:1 ratio of 1 and 5 μgold particles plus 6 μg of DNA was shot onto plates containing 3 leaves each. Fully expanded leaves used in these experiments were prepared from 24 day old soybean plants cv. Wayne. After particle bombardment, GUS activity was assayed 24 hours later by vaccuum infiltration of the leaves with X-Gluc (Craig, 1992). 
     The results (Table 15) showed that in transient expression in soybean leaves, SCSV segment 4 promoter was more active (25-35 spots/leaf) than the 35S promoter (10-15 spots/leaf) when the respective plasmids were shot into soybean leaves. 
     EXAMPLE 18 
     Testing of SCSV Promoters for Callus-specific Expression 
     All seven SCSV non-coding sequences were cloned into the promoterless GUS vector pHW9. Binary vectors each containing one of the seven SCSV promoter:GUS fusion constructs were transformed into tobacco tissues by Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer. At 2-3 weeks after transformation, calli containing primodia of transformed shoots were subjected to histochemical GUS staining. Best expression was observed in calli transformed with segment 1 followed by the S4nc:GUS:OCS constructs. This result suggests that the segment 1 promoter is best suitable for selectable marker gene expression and that the segment 4 promoter is best for gene expression. 
     EXAMPLE 19 
     Characterisation of Regulatory Sequences of the  Flaveria bidentis  MeA Gene 
     In  Flaveria bidentis  (Chitty et al., 1994) the MeA gene is the gene that codes for the NADP-malic enzyme adapted for C4 photosynthesis. The structure and putative promoter and transcription termination/polyadenylation signal sequences of this gene has been isolated and the terminator sequence determined (FIG.  15 ). The potential activities of the putative promoter element (MeA 5′ sequences) and terminator (MeA 3′ sequences) of the  F. bidentis  MeA gene were studied in tralsgenic  F. bidentis  plants using GUS expression vectors (FIG.  16 ). A long version of the MeA 3′ terminator sequence (MeA 3′L=5.5 kb from the stop codon) was used in these experiments. In FIG. 16, the GUS expression cassette ME20 is ligated to the binary vector pGA470 (An et al., 1985) while ME29 is cloned into pGA482 (An, 1986). Plants were transfonned with these vectors as described by Chitty et al. (1994) 
     Study of GUS activity of the transformed plants by histochemical staining and fluorometric assays showed that the MeA 3′ sequence of the gene is required for high level expression of GUS in leaves of transgenic  F. bidentis  plants (Table 16). The 5′ sequences of the gene do not appear to contribute to gene expression in leaves but appear to direct expression in meristems and stems in the presence of a suitable transcription termination/polyadenylation signal sequence such as the OCS 3′ (Table 16). 
     EXAMPLE 20 
     Use of the MeA 3′ Termination/polyadenylation Signal Sequences in SCSV Promoter Constructs to Enhance Gene Expression in Monocotyledenous Plants 
     Because most gene control elements are located at the 5′ end, the activity of the MeA 3′ sequence is tested in conjunction with the S4nc SCSV promoter with the view to enhance gene expression directed by the SCSV promoters. For these experiments, a short version of the MeA 3′ terminator sequence was used (MeA 3′S; 900 bases from the stop codon) to prepare GUS expression vectors containing the S4nc promoter with either the OCS 3′, SCSV segment 5 3′ (SC5Tr) or the MeA 3′ transcription termination/polyadenylation signal sequence. These constructs were derived from the promoterless GUS plasmid pKGO described previously and the recombinant plasmid pBS237 containing the S4nc:GUS:MeA3′ construct is presented in FIG.  17 . GUS activity conferred by these constructs were assayed in Japonica rice callus cv. Taipei 309. The constructs were introduced into rice calli by particle bombardment using the Bio-Rad Biolistic PDS-1000/He Particle Delivery System (Bio-Rad Laboratories) and compared with results obtained in dicotyledonous tissues such as soybean leaves and tobacco protoplasts (Table 17). For rice particle bombardment experiments, 4 mg of a 1:1 ratio of 1 and 5 micron gold particles plus 5 ug of DNA in a total of 50 ul volume was shot onto six plates of calli. The DNA was made up with a 4:1 molar ratio of each of the vectors containing GUS gene to the vector containing the selectable marker gene. The vector containing the selectable marker was pTRA151 (Zheng et al., 1991). Each plate contained 50-100 fresh secondary calli derived from mature embryos. Forty hours after DNA bombardment, GUS activity was detected by placing the calli in 0.3% w/v X-Gluc solution in 100 mM phosphate buffer. Blue spots were counted after overnight incubation. 
     For transient GUS expression in tobacco and soybean, only the GUS constructs were introduced into protoplasts and leaf tissues, respectively. After electroporation, tobacco protoplasts were assayed for GUS activity as previously described. The constructs were introduced into soybean tissues by particle bombardment as described above. 
     The results showed that in the monocotyledenous rice tissues, a 16-fold higher activity was obtained with the MeA 3′ construct compared to the SCSV terminator (Table 17). In similar experiments, a highly expressed GUS construct containing the ubiquitin promoter:GUS:NOS cassette (Christensen et al., 1992) has about 4-fold higher activity than the SC4:GUS:MeA3′ construct. 
     In the dicotyledonous tissues, similar activities were obtained with both of these constructs in tobacco protoplasts and soybean leaves. However, both were 2-fold higher in activity than that obtained with the OCS terminator in tobacco protoplasts (Table 17). 
     These results suggest that the MeA3′ sequence can be used to enable gene expression directed by SCSV promoters in monocots. 
     EXAMPLE 21 
     Use of New Vectors Containing SCSV Promoters and Terminators to Drive a Selectable Marker Gene in Transgenic Plants 
     The suitability of using SCSV promoters to drive a selectable marker gene as a basis for selecting transgenic plants after transformation and regeneration was tested in tobacco plants. The selectable marker used is the kanamycin resistance gene, nptII. Binary vectors containing either a SCSV segment 1 (pBS246) (FIG. 18) or a SCSV seg 7 promoter (pKHAN4) (FIG. 19) fused to the nptII gene were constructed from the pART27 (Gleave, 1992) and pKSB.bar1 (FIG.  19 ), respectively. These were transformed separately into tobacco plants (Ellis et al., 1987) and putative transgenic plants were selected under kanamycin selection using 100 μg/ml kanamycin (FIG.  20 ). Kanamycin resistance was confirmed in the transgenic plants by dot blot assay for the nptII gene activity (McDonnell et al., 1987) and survival of the transgenic plants under 100 μg/ml kanamycin in a rooting medium. The results showed that the SCSV segment promoter construct produced at least as many kanamycin resistant plants as the 35S promoter construct use in the same experiment and is, therefore, as effective as the 35S promoter for selecting transgenic tobacco plants based on kanamycin resistance (Table 18). Tobacco transformed with pKHAN4 is resistant to 100 μg/ml kanamycin in regeneration medium and 50 μg/ml kanamycin in rooting medium. Restriction maps of pKSB.bar1 and pKHAN2 used to produce pKHAN4 are shown in FIG.  19 . 
     EXAMPLE 22 
     Development of a New Plant Gene Expression Vector System 
     A new expression vector comprising a SCSV segment 4 promoter and a SCSV segment 5 terminator driving any useful gene of interest (pICAN 1) (FIG. 21) has been constructed from a pGEM derivative and the resultant expression cassette can be inserted into the binary vectors pBS246 and pKHAN4. The resultant binary vectors can then be used to transform plants of economic importance especially cotton, subclover, potato and white clover under kanamycin selection. Other binary vectors can be constructed from different combinations of SCSV promoters and terminators to produce a fall range of binary vector system for plant gene expression. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 8 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Sequences and positions of PCR primers for cloning non-coding regions and 
               
               
                 corresponding PCR fragment sizes. 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Primer 1 
                 Position 
                 Primer 1 
                 Primer 2 
                 Position 
                 Primer 2 
                 Fragment 
               
               
                 Name 
                 of 5′ end 
                 sequence (5′-3′) 
                 Name 
                 of 5′ end 
                 sequence (5′-3′) 
                 size (bp) 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Sln3 
                  241 
                 GGCGTGCGTCGGCCATGG 
                 Slnc5 
                 577 
                 GGCGTGCGTCGGGGATCCT 
                 665 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO: 16) 
                   
                 CGCTATGAAATTCTGAAC 
                 (SEQ ID NO:17) 
                   
                 ATGTTGTAATTTTATATGG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 S2nc3 
                  79 
                 GGCGTGCGTCGGCCATGG 
                 s2nc5 
                 924 
                 GGCGTGCGTCGGGGATCCA 
                 177 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO: 18) 
                   
                 AAGCTTAGAGAGAGAAAG 
                 (SEQ ID NO:19) 
                   
                 ATAAAAGAATATATATTATTG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 S4nc3 
                 347 
                 CTCACTATAGAACCATGGA 
                 S3nc5 
                 863 
                 CTCACTAAAGGGGGATCCT 
                 502 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO: 20) 
                   
                 CACAAGATTCTAAG 
                 (SEQ ID NO:21) 
                   
                 GAGATGTAATTGTG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 S4nc3 
                 347 
                 CTCACTATAGAACCATGGA 
                 S4nc5 
                 803 
                 CTCACTAAAGGGGGATCCT 
                 546 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO: 22) 
                   
                 AAGCCAGAACAAAG 
                 (SEQ ID NO:23) 
                   
                 AATTGTTATTATCA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 S5nc3 
                 372 
                 CTCACTATAGAACCATGG 
                 S5nc5 
                 874 
                 CTCACTAAAGGGGGATCCT 
                 523 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO: 24) 
                   
                 TCGTTGTAAAATGAC 
                 (SEQ ID NO:25) 
                   
                 AATTGTGATGATT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 S6nc3 
                  50 
                 CTCACTATAGAACCATGG 
                 S6nc5 
                 903 
                 CTCACTAAAGGGGGATCCT 
                 164 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO: 26) 
                   
                 TGGGCCCAGGGAAGCGA 
                 (SEQ ID NO:27) 
                   
                 GAAAACTCTGCGAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 S7nc3 
                 383 
                 CTCACTATAGAACCATGG 
                 S7nc5 
                 817 
                 CTCACTAAAGGGGGATCCT 
                 554 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO: 28) 
                   
                 CTTAAAACCAGAACA 
                 (SEQ ID NO:29) 
                   
                 AATTAATAGTAATTATG 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 9 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 GUS activity of SCSV segment 7 promoter:GUS construct in primary 
               
               
                 transgenic substerranean clover plants (To) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Plant # 
                 Basta Resistance 
                 GUS Activity 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1 
                 R 
                 +++ 
               
               
                 2 
                 R 
                 ++ 
               
               
                 3 
                 R 
                 − 
               
               
                 4 
                 R 
                 ++ 
               
               
                 5 
                 S 
                 ++ 
               
               
                 6 
                 R 
                 − 
               
               
                 7 
                 R 
                 ++++ 
               
               
                 8 
                 R 
                 ++++ 
               
               
                 9 
                 MR 
                 +++ 
               
               
                 10 
                 R 
                 +++ 
               
               
                 11 
                 R 
                 +++ 
               
               
                 12 
                 MR 
                 − 
               
               
                 13 
                 MR 
                 ++ 
               
               
                 14 
                 S 
                 ++ 
               
               
                 15 
                 R 
                 + 
               
               
                 16 
                 N.d. 
                 ++++ 
               
               
                 17 
                 N.d. 
                 +++ 
               
               
                 18 
                 N.d. 
                 − 
               
               
                 19 
                 N.d. 
                 +++ 
               
               
                 20 
                 N.d. 
                 ++ 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Plants were analysed two months after transfer of plants to glasshouse from tissue culture.  
               
               
                 Basta (phosphinothricin - [PPT] resistance was assayed by painting basta at 1 gm  
               
               
                 PPT/litre onto fully unfolded young leaves and reaction was assayed after one week.  
               
               
                 R No damage;  
               
               
                 MR Moderate damage to leaflet;  
               
               
                 S Leaflet dead  
               
               
                 N.d. Not determined  
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 10 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 GUS activity in tobacco protoplasts directed by SCSV segment 2 
               
               
                 promoter to tobacco protoplasts relative to the 35S promoter 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 GUS Activity 
                   
               
               
                   
                 Experiment 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Construct 
                 1 
                 2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 S2nc:GUS:OCS3′ 
                 0.46 
                 0.45 
               
               
                   
                 35S:GUS:OCS3′ 
                 1 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 11 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Putative Polyadenylation and Termination 
               
               
                 signals in SCSV DNA Components 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Putative Polyadenylation/ 
               
               
                 DNA Component 
                 Termination Signals 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Seg. 1 
                 AATTAT a -(N) 19 -TGTGTTTT c   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Seg. 2 
                 AATAAA b -(N) 10 -TTGTTTT d   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Seg. 3 
                 AATAAA b -(N) 3 -TTGTT e   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Seg. 4 
                 AATAAA b -(N) 8 -TTATTGTT f   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Seg. 5 
                 AATAAA b -(N) 3 -TTGTTTT d   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Seg. 6 
                 AATAAA b -(N) 9 -TTGTT e   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Seg. 7 
                 AATAAA b -(N) 11 -TTGTTT g   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 N, any nucleotide residue, wherein numbers refer to the number of residues in the sequence  
               
               
                   a SEQ ID NO: 14  
               
               
                   b SEQ ID NO: 15  
               
               
                   c SEQ ID NO: 30  
               
               
                   d SEQ ID NO: 31  
               
               
                   e SEQ ID NO: 32  
               
               
                   f SEQ ID NO: 33  
               
               
                   g SEQ ID NO: 34  
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 12 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 GUS Activity Directed by SCSV Promoter in the presence of 
               
               
                 different terminators in tobacco protoplasts 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 GUS ACTIVITY 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Expt 1 
                 Expt 2 
                 Expt 3 
                 Av 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 S4nc:GUS:OCS3′ 
                 551 
                 166.3 
                 — 
                 358 
               
               
                 S4nc:GUS:SC5Tr 
                 1258 
                 311.8 
                 — 
                 785 
               
             
          
           
               
                 No DNA 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
               
             
          
           
               
                 S1nc:GUS:OCS3′ 
                 — 
                 — 
                 26 
                 26 
               
               
                 S1nc [ΔHindIII] a :GUS:OCS3′ 
                 — 
                 — 
                 29 
                 29 
               
               
                 S1nc [ΔHindIII]:GUS:SC3Tr 
                 — 
                 — 
                 84 
                 84 
               
               
                 35S:GUS:OCS3′ 
                 — 
                 — 
                 35 
                 35 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 In each experiment, duplicate electroporations of each construct was performed.  
               
               
                 Results are the average of the duplicates.  
               
               
                   a Contains a deletion of a HindIII fragment.  
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 13 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fluorometric GUS Assay of Independent T1 generation of transgenic 
               
               
                 subterranean clover plants expressing either the S7nc:GUS or the 
               
               
                 35S:GUS Construct 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 Leaf (Young) 
                 Petiole (Young) 
               
               
                   
                 Construct/Plant # 
                 [unfolded] 
                 [unfolded] 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 S7nc:GUS Plant #1 
                 56.6 
                 120 
               
               
                   
                 S7nc:GUS Plant #2 
                 35 
                 48 
               
               
                   
                 S7nc:GUS Plant #3 
                 116 
                 140 
               
               
                   
                 355:GUS Plant #1 
                 120 
                 238 
               
               
                   
                 355:GUS Plant #2 
                 280 
                 238 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Plants were 2-3 months old when assayed.  
               
               
                   
                 Results show differential expression in different tissues.  
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 14 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Distribution of GUS activity in a T1 generation transgenic 
               
               
                 subterranean clover plant expressing the S7nc:GUS construct 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Source of Tissue 
                 Leaf 
                 Petiole 
                 Stem 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Top-[folded leaf; 
                 1 
                 1.9 
                 2.0 
               
               
                   
                 #1 leaf position] 
               
               
                   
                 Middle 
                 1.6 
                 5.8 
                 22.0 
               
               
                   
                 [#3 leaf position] 
               
               
                   
                 Bottom 
                 4.0 
                 4.8 
                 12.6 
               
               
                   
                 [#17 leaf position] 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Plants were 2-3 months old when assayed.  
               
               
                   
                 Results show differential expression in different tissues.  
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 15 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Transient expression of GUS in soybean leaves directed 
               
               
                 by a SCSV promoter 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 GUS Expression in 
               
               
                   
                   
                 soybean leaves* 
               
               
                   
                 Constructs 
                 (# spots/leaf) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 S4nc:GUS:SC5Tr 
                 25-35 
               
               
                   
                 35S:GUS:35STr 
                 10-15 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 *Results from one experiment in which spots from 3 leaves were counted in each treatment  
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 16 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Characterisation of GUS activity directed by MeA 3′L sequence 
               
               
                 (5.5 kb version) in Transgenic  Flaveria bidentis  Plants 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Constructs 
                 GUS Expression 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 MeA:GUS:MeA 3′L (ME24) 
                 High GUS in leaves 
               
               
                   
                   
                 High GUS in meristem 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Moderate GUS in stems 
               
               
                   
                 MeA:GUS:OCS 3′(ME20) 
                 No GUS in leaves 
               
               
                   
                   
                 High GUS in meristem 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Moderate GUS in stems 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 17 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Transient expression of GUS in rice callus, soybean leaves and 
               
               
                 tobacco protoplasts showing enhancement of SCSV promoter 
               
               
                 activity by MeA 3′s sequences in rice callus 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 GUS Expression 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Rice callus 
                 Soybean leaves 
                 Tobacco protoplasts 
               
               
                 Constructs 
                 (Rel # spots) 
                 (Rel # spots)* 
                 (Fluorescence) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 S4nc:GUS:OCS3′ 
                 ND a   
                 ND 
                 0.49 
               
             
          
           
               
                 S4nc:GUS:SC5Tr 
                 0.06 
                 1 
                 1.0 
               
               
                 S4nc:GUS:MeA 3′S 
                 1 
                 1 
                 1.1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ND Not done  
               
               
                 *Average number of spots from 3 leaves in one experiment  
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 18 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Selection of putative transgenic tobacco plants transformed with 
               
               
                 Kanamycin resistance gene driven by 355 or S4nc promoter. 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Selection Criteria 
                 Constructs 
                 % Kanamycin resistant 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 npt II dot Blot 
                 35S:npt II:35STr 
                  (1/3)* 
                 33% 
               
               
                   
                 S1nc:npt II:SC3Tr 
                  (7/16) 
                 43% 
               
               
                 Kanamycin selection 
                 355:npt II:35STr 
                 (10/21) 
                 48% 
               
               
                 in rooting medium 
                 S1nc:npt II:SC3Tr 
                 (11/21) 
                 52% 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *Number of resistant plants in total number of plants tested.  
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 19 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Summary of the activities of SCSV transcription regulatory 
               
               
                 elements in plant tissues 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 SCSV 
                   
                   
                 Activity Detected 
               
               
                 promoter 
                 Gene Expressed 
                 Protoplasts 
                 Transgenic Plants 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 A. 
               
               
                 Seg 1 
                 GUS, nptII 
                 Tobacco 
                 Tobacco 
               
               
                 Seg 2 
                 GUS 
                 Tobacco 
                 Tobacco 
               
               
                 Seg 3 
                 GUS 
                 Not done 
                 Tobacco 
               
               
                 Seg 4 
                 GUS 
                 Tobacco 
                 Tobacco, potato 
               
               
                 Seg 5 
                 GUS 
                 Tobacco, subclover 
                 Tobacco 
               
               
                 Seg 6 
                 None 
                 Not done 
                 Not done* 
               
               
                 Seg 7 
                 GUS, nptII 
                 Tobacco, subclover 
                 Tobacco, subclo- 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 ver, cotton 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 SCSV 
                   
                   
                 Activity Detected 
               
               
                 Terminator 
                 Gene Expressed 
                 Protoplasts 
                 Transgenic Plants 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 B. 
               
               
                 SC3Tr 
                 GUS, nptII 
                 Tobacco 
                 Tobacco 
               
               
                 SC5Tr 
                 GUS 
                 Tobacco 
                 Not done 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *Sequence used probably insufficient to be active. Additional DNA sequence may be required as shown in segment 2.  
               
             
          
         
       
     
     BIBLIOGRAPHY 
     An, G. (1986). Development of plant promoter expression vectors and their use for analysis of differential activity of nopaline synthase promoter in transformed cells. Plant Physiol. 81, 86-91. 
     An, G., Watson, B. D., Stachel, S., Gordon, M. P. and Nester, E. W. (1985). New cloning vehicles for transformation of higher plants.  EMBO J . 4, 277-284. 
     Benfey, P. N. and Chua, N.-H. (1990). The cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter: combinatorial regulation of transcription in plants. Science 250, 959-966. 
     Burns, T. M., Harding, R. M., Hafner, G., Beetham, P. and Dale, J. L. (1993). Single-stranded DNA genome organisation of banana bunchy top virus. IXth International Congress of Virology, Glasgow, Abstract W62-8. 
     Chitty, J. A., Burbank, R. T., Marchall, J. S., Chen, Z. and Taylor, W. C., Genetic Transformation of the C 4  Plant,  Flaveria bidentis , The Plant Journal 6: 949-956, 1994. 
     Chu, P., Boevink, P., Surin, B., Larkin, P., Keese, P and Waterhouse, P. (1994). Non-germinated single stranded DNA plant viruses. In “Pathogenesis and host-parasite specificity in plant diseases: Vol III. Viruses and Viroids”. Pergamon Press. 
     Chu, P. W. G. and Helns, K. (1988). Novel virus-like particles containing circular single-stranded DNA associated with subterranean clover stunt disease. Virology 167, 38-49. 
     Chu, P. W. G., Keese, P., Qiu, B. S., Waterhouse, P. M. and Gerlach, W. L. (I 993a). Putative full-length clones of the genomic DNA segments of subterranean clover stunt virus and identification of the segment coding for the viral coat protein. Virus Research 27, 161-171. 
     Chu, P. W. G., Qiu, B. S., Li., Z-y and Larkin, P. (1993b). Replication of subterranean clover stunt virus in pea and subterranean clover protoplasts. Virus Research 27, 173-183. 
     Christensen, A. H., Sharrock, R. A. and Quail, P. H. (1992). Maize polyubiquitin genes: structure, thermal perturbation of expression and transcript splicing, and promoter activity following transfer to protoplasts by electroporation. Plant Mol. Biol. 18, 675-689. 
     Cousin, Y, L., Lyons, B. R. and Llewellyn, D. J. (1991). Transformation of an Australian cotton cultivar: prospects for cotton improvement through genetic engineering. Aus. J. PI. Physiol. 18, 481-494. 
     Craig, S., (1992) The GUS Reporter Gene - Application to light and transmission electron microscopy. In GUS protocols: using the GUS gene as a reporter of gene expression. S. R. Gallagher, Ed. Academic Press, Inc., Page 115. 
     Das, A. (1993). Control of transcription termination by RNA-binding proteins. Ann. Rev. Biochem. 62, 893-930. 
     de Carvalho, F., Gheysen, G., Kushnir, S., Van Montagu, M., Inze, D. and Castresana, C. (1992). Suppression of β-1,3-glucanase transgene expression in homozygous plants. The  EMBO J . 11, 2595-2602. 
     Depicker, A., Satchel, S., Dhaese, P., Zambryski, P. and Goodman, H. (1982). Nopaline synthase:transcript mapping and DNA sequence. J.Mol. Appl. Genet. 1, 561-575. 
     Del Sal, G., Manfioletti, G. and Schnider, C. (1989). The CTAB-DNA precipitation method: a common mini-scale preparation of template DNA from pagemids, phages or plasmids suitable for sequencing. Biotechniques 7, 514-518. 
     Devereaux, J., Haeberli, P. and Smithies, O. (1984). A comprehensive set of sequence analysis programs for the VAX. Nucleic acids Res. 12, 387-395. 
     Ditta, G., Stanfield, S., Corbin, D. and Helsinki, D. R. (1980). Broad host range DNA cloning system for gram-negative bacteria: construction of a gene bank of Rhizobium meliloti. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77, 7347-7351. 
     Dolferus, R., Jacobs, M., Peacock, J. W., and Dennis, L. S. (1994). Differential interactions of promoter elements in stress responses of the Arabidopsis Adh Gene. Plant Physiol. 105, 1075-1087. 
     Ellis, J. G., Llewellyn, D. J., Dennis, E. S. and Peacock, W. J. (1987). Maize Adh-1 promoter sequences control anaerobic regulation: addition of upstream promoter elements from constitutive genes is necessary for expression in tobacco.  EMBO J . 6, 11-16. 
     Gil, A. and Proudfoot, N. J. (1984). Nature 312, 473-474. 
     Gil, A. and Proudfoot, N. J. (1984). A sequence downstream of AAUAAA is required for rabbit β-globin MRNA 3′-end formation. 
     Gleave, A. P. (1992). A versatile binary vector system with a T-DNA organisational structure conducive to efficient integration of cloned DNA into the plant genome. Plant Molecular Biology 20, 1203-1207. 
     Harding, R. M., Bums, T. M. and Dale, J. L. (1991). Virus-like particles associated with banana bunchy top disease contain small single-stranded DNA. J. Gen. Virol. 72, 225-230. 
     Harding, R. M., Burn, T. M., Hafiier, G., Dietzgen, R. G. and Dale, J. L. (1993). Nucleotide sequence of one component of the banana bunchy top virus genome contains a putative replicase gene. J. Gen. Virology 74, 323-328. 
     Hatch, M. D. (1987) C4 photosynthesis: A unique blend of modified biochemistry, anatomy and ultrastructure. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 895:81-106. 
     Higgins, T. J. V. and Spencer, D. (1991). The expression of a chimeric cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S-pea vicilin gene in tobacco. Plant Sci. 74, 89-98. 
     Hoekema, A., Hirsch, P. R., Hooykaas, P. J. J. and Schilperoott, R. A. (1 983). A binary plant vector strategy based on separation of vir- and T-region of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens Ti-plasmid. Nature 303, 179-180. 
     Isogai, M., Sano, Y. and Kojima, M. (1992). Identification of the unique DNA species in the milk vetch dwarf virus-infected leaves. Ann. Phytopath. Soc. Japan 58, 631-632, Abstract. 
     Jacobsen-Lyon, K. Jesen, E. O., Jorgensen, J- E., Marcker, K. A., Peacock, W. J. and Dennis, E. S. (1995). Symbiotic and nonsymbiotic hemoglobin genes of  Casurina glauca . Plant Cell 7,213-223. 
     Janssen, B. J. and Gardner, R. C. (1989). Localised transient expression of GUS i leaf discs following co-cultivation with Agrobacterium. Plant Mol. Biol. 14, 61-72. 
     Jefferson, R. A., Kavanagh, T. A. and Bevan, M. W. (1987). GUS fusions: b-glucuronidase as a sensitive and versatile gene fusion marker in higher plants.  EMBO J . 6, 3901-3907. 
     Joshi, C. P. (1987). Putative polyadenylation signals in nuclear genes of higher plants: a compilation and analysis. Nucleic Acids Research. 15, 9627-9640. 
     Katul, L., Vetten, H. J., Maiss, E., Makkouk, K. M. Lesemann, D.-E. and Casper, R. (1993). Characterisation and serology of virus-like parficles associated with faba bean necrotic yellows. Ann. Appl. Biol. 123, 629-647. 
     Khan, M. R. I., Tabe, L. M., Heath, L. C., Spencer, D. and Higgins, T. J. V. (1994). Agbacterium-mediated transformation of subterranean clover ( Trifolium subterraneum  L.). Plant Physiol 105, 81-88. 
     Kirschman, J. A. and Cramer, J. H. (1988). Two new tools:multi-purpose cloning vectors carry kanamycin or spectinomycin/streptomycin resistance markers. Gene 58, 163-165. 
     Last, D. I., Brettell, R. I. S., Chaudhury, A. M., Chamberlain, D. A., Larkin, P. J., Marsh, E. L., Peacock, J. W. and Dennis, E. S. (1991). pEmu: an improved promoter for gene expression in cereal cells. Theor Appl Genet 81, 581-588. 
     Lazo, G. R., Stein, P. A. and Ludwig, R. A. (1991). A DNA transformation-competent Arabidopsis genomic library in Agrobacterium. Biotechnol. 9, 963-967. 
     Linn, F., Heidmann, I., Saedler, H. and Meyer, P. (1990). Epigenetic changes in the expression of the maize Z1 gene in  Petunia hybrida : Role of numbers of integrated gene copies and state of methylation. Mol. Gen. Genet. 222, 329-336. 
     McDonnell, R. E., Clark, R. D., Smith, W. A. and Hinchee, M. A. (1987). A simplified method for the detection of neomycin phosphotransferase II activity in transformed plant tissues. Plant Mol. Biol. Rep. 5, 380-386. 
     Matzke, M. A. and Matzke, A. J. M. (1991). Differential inactivation and methylation of a transgene in plants by two suppressor loci containing homologous sequences. Plant Mol. Biol. 16, 821-830. 
     Messing, J., Geraghty, D., Heidecker, G., Hu, N-T., Kridl, J. and Rubenstein, I. (1983). Plant gene structure. In: “Genetic engineering of plants. An agricultural perspective.” Kosuge, T., Meredith, C. P. and Hollaender, A. (eds). Plenum Press, New York. pp 211-277. 
     Nagel, R., Elliot, A., Masel, A., Birch., R. G. and Manners, J. M. (1990). Electroporation of binary Ti plasmid vector into Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Agrobacterium rhizogenes. FEMS Microbiology Letters 67, 325-328. 
     Odell, J. T., Nagy, F. and Chua, N.-H. (1985). Identification of DNA sequences required for activity of cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. Nature 313, 810. 
     Pietrzak, M., Shillito, R. D., Hohn, T. and Potrykus, I. (1986). Expression in plants of two bacterial antibiotic resistance genes after protoplast transformation with a new plant expression vector. Nucleic Acids Res. 14, 5857-5868. 
     Richardson, J. P. (1993). Transcription ternination. Critical Review in Biochem. and Mol. Biol. 28, 1-30. 
     Rhode, W., Randles, J. W., Langridge, P. and Hanold, D. (1990). Nucleotide sequence of a circular single-stranded DNA associated with coconut foliar decay virus. Virology 176, 648-651. 
     Rothnie, H. M., Reid, J. and Hohn, T. (1994). The contribution of AAUAAA and the upstream element UUUGUA to the efficiency of mRNA 3′-end formation in plants.  EMBO J . 13, 2200-2210. 
     Sambrook, J., Fritsch, E. F. and Maniatis, T. (1989). Molecular cloning: a laboratory manual. 2nd ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York. 
     Sanger, F., Nicklen, S. and Coulson, A. R. (1977). DNA sequencing with chain-terminating inhibitors. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 74, 5463-5467. 
     Sano, Y., Isogai, M., Satoh, S. and Kojima. M. (1993). Small virus-like particles containing single-stranded DNAs associated with milk vetch dwarf disease in Japan. 6th Int. Cong. of Plant Path., Montreal, Canada, Jul. 28-Aug. 6, 1993. Abs. 17.1.27. 
     Scheid, O. M., Paszkowski, J. and Potrykus, I. (1991). Reversible inactivation of a transgene in  Arabidopsis thaliana . Mol. Gen. Genet. 228, 104-112. 
     Schmulling, T., Schell, J. and Spena, A. (1989). Promoters of the rolA, B, and C genes of  Agrobacterium rhizogenes  are differentially regulated in plants. Plant Cell 1, 665-670. 
     Sugaya, S., Hayakawa, K., Handa, T. and Uchimiya, H. (1989). Cell-specific expression of the rolC gene of the TL-DNA of Ri plasmid in transgenic tobacco plants. Plant Cell Physiol. 30, 649-653. 
     Taylor, B. H. and Larkin, P. J. (1988). Analysis of electroporation efficiency in plant protoplants. Aust. J. Biotech. 1, 52-57. 
     Thomas, J. E. and Dietzgen, R. G. (1991). Purification, characterization and serological detection of virus-like particles associated with banana bunchy top disease in Australia. J. Gen. Virol. 72,217-224. 
     Wenzler, H., Mignery, G., May, G. and Park, W. (1989). A rapid and efficient transformation method for the production of large numbers of transgenic potato plants. Plant Science 63, 79-85. 
     Zheng, Z., Hayashimoto, A., Li, Z. and Murai, N. (1991). Hygromycin resistance gene cassette for vector construction and selection of transformed rice protoplasts. Plant Physiol. 97, 832-835.