The sequence surrounding the translation initiation codon of the pea plastocyanin gene increases translational efficiency of a reporter gene.

The 5'-upstream region of the pea plastocyanin gene (petE) directed 5-10-fold higher levels of beta-glucuronidase (GUS) activity than the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter in transgenic tobacco plants, although the levels of GUS mRNA were similar. The sequence (AAAAAUGG) around the translation initiation codon of petE enhanced translation of the GUS mRNA 10-fold compared to translation from the GUS translation initiation codon in transgenic tobacco plants and transfected protoplasts.