Regulatory Sequences for Constitutive, Tissue-Specific, and Induced Expression of Transgenes in Ornamental Plants

Abstract

Genetic engineering allows for an extension beyond the limits of a species' natural variability. This enables the production of ornamental plants with novel colors and shapes of flowers, enhanced resistance, and a complex of characteristics gaining aesthetic and economic advantages. As a rule, success in achievement of desirable effects requires changes in the expression patterns of particular genes. A key regulatory element determining the level and tissue and temporal specificity in gene expression is a promoter. Therefore, an appropriate promoter must be chosen in the first place to build the planned structures of genetic constructs for transgene expression in plants. In recent years, many novel constitutive, tissue-specific, and induced promoters of plant origin have been explored. They may broaden advancements for derivation of novel forms and cultivars by means of a strictly directed expression of the transferred genes. The review discusses literary data on promoter application to biotechnology for the cases of ornamental plants.