Regulatory elements in the promoter of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase gene 1 of pea (PSPALI) in response to nonpathogenic attack were identified by in uivo footprinting analysis. The footprints determined AC-rich sequences, Box-I and Box-11, that were conserved at similar positions in the phenylpropanoid gene promoters from several plants. To reveal the functions of the AC-rich sequence in nonpathogen-responsiveness, we constructed Box-I-deletion PSPALl promoter (&-I) with GUS reporter gene and transformed it into tobacco plant. The dB-I had reduced basal expression and a complete loss of nonpathogen-responsiveness. These results indicate the essentiality of Box-I for PSPALl activation induced by nonpathogenic attack.

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