Cauliflower mosaic virus P35S promoter activity in Escherichia coli.

We present evidence that the cauliflower mosaic virus promoter P35S can direct expression of the bacterial neomycin phosphotransferase II (NPTII) gene in Escherichia coli. Transcription is initiated at several sites, the major one being located approximately 315 bases upstream of the plant start site. The nucleotide sequence directly preceding this start site is strongly homologous to the prokaryotic promoter consensus sequence. Thus constructs designed for introduction into plants can be expressed in E. coli.