Promoters derived from banana bunchy top virus-associated components S1 and S2 drive transgene expression in both tobacco and banana

Potential promoter regions of the Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV)-associated DNA components S1 and S2 were fused to the #-glucuronidase reporter gene and assessed for activity in both tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi) and banana (Musa spp. cv. Bluggoe). Transient assays indicated that all the S1- and S2-derived promoters were active and had greater expression in tobacco than banana. In stably transformed tobacco and banana, the S1- and S2-derived promoters directed expression in root meristems and trichomes. The S1 promoter was also expressed in the vascular tissue of leaves and roots, while both the S1 and S2 promoters were active in tobacco leaf trichomes and pollen. In banana, expression was significantly enhanced by the inclusion of the maize polyubiquitin intron 3' to the promoter. Interestingly, there was some evidence to indicate that S1 promoter fragments containing part of the open reading frame at the 5' end of the promoter had enhanced activity, suggesting that promoter elements may not be confined to the non-coding region.