Cloning and promoter analysis of the cotton lipid transfer protein gene Ltp3

A cotton Ltp3 gene and its 5′ and 3′ flanking regions have been cloned with a PCR-based genomic DNA walking method. The amplified 2.6 kb DNA fragment contains sequences corresponding to GH3 cDNA which has been shown to encode a lipid transfer protein (LTP3). The gene has an intron of 80 bp which is located in the region corresponding to the C-terminus of LTP3. The Ltp3 promoter was systematically analyzed in transgenic tobacco plants by employing the Escherichia coli β-glucuronidase gene (GUS) as a reporter. The results of histochemical and fluorogenic GUS assays indicate that the 5′ flanking region of the Ltp3 gene contains cis-elements conferring the trichome specific activity of Ltp3 promoter.