Abstract: The present invention is directed to 5? regulatory regions of a cotton seed-specific gene, ?-globulin. The 5? regulatory region, or parts thereof, when operably linked to either the coding sequence of a native gene, heterologous gene or a sequence complementary to a native plant gene, direct expression of the coding sequence or complementary sequence in a plant seed. The regulatory regions are useful in expression cassettes and expression vectors for the transformation of plants. Also provided are methods of modulating the levels of a native or heterologous gene such as a fatty acid synthesis or lipid metabolism gene by transforming a plant with the subject expression cassettes and expression vectors.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to 5′ regulatory regions of a cotton seed-specific gene, &agr;-globulin. The 5′ regulatory region, or parts thereof, when operably linked to either the coding sequence of a native gene, heterologous gene or a sequence complementary to a native plant gene, direct expression of the coding sequence or complementary sequence in a plant seed. The regulatory regions are useful in expression cassettes and expression vectors for the transformation of plants. Also provided are methods of modulating the levels of a native or heterologous gene such as a fatty acid synthesis or lipid metabolism gene by transforming a plant with the subject expression cassettes and expression vectors.