Gene Technology

Abstract

Tissue- and Organ-Specific Promoters for Expression of Heterologous Genes in Transgenic Cassava (Manihot Esculenta Crantz) Plants

Jelili T Opabode and Oluyemisi A Akinyemiju

Promoters are regions of DNA that initiates transcription of genes. A number of promoters have been identified that confer high level of expression of heterologous genes in transgenic plants. Some promoters have constitutive expression as they are active in all circumstances in the cell, while others are regulated, becoming active in certain cell or in response to specific stimuli. Despite the availability of tissue- and organ-specific promoters, most transgene expressions in Cassava are driven by constitutive cauliflower mosaic virus promoter. This paper examines the availability of promoters for transgene expression in plants, assesses the use of promoters for transgene expression in Cassava and establishes the need for tissue- and organ-specific promoters for expression of heterologous genes in Cassava.