Abstract: The promoter region(BCSP666) of β-conglycinin α-subunit gene from the genomic DNA of soybean Jilin 43 was isolated by PCR method. Sequencing analysis showed that the cloned fragment BCSP666 had the similar structure of the soybean seed-specific promoter β-conglycinin α′-subunit gene promoter and β-conglycinin β-subunit gene promoter, and it also contains many of the motifs that contribute to the seed-specific promoter activity. Based on this sequencing analysis, it was deduced that promoter fragment BCSP666 had the seed-sepecific promoter activity. And then we constracted the seed-specific expression vector pBMI666 with the promoter fragment BCSP666 and Δ6-fatty acid desaturase gene from Mortierella isabellina. The Δ6- fatty acid desaturase is the rate-limiting enzyme of the desaturation of linoleic acid in production of an essential fatty acid, γ- linolenic acid (GLA). The production of γ-linolenic acid (GLA) was observed in soybean callus cells, which were transformed with this vector. This confirmed the promoter activity of the promoter fragment BCSP666.

Key words: Soybean, Seed-specific promoter, Motif, γ-linolenic acid