Analyses of genes that encode the 15-kDa zein protein of maize: identification of potential gene regulatory elements

A gene (gZ15.4.1) encoding the 15-kDa zein polypeptide was isolated from maize cultivar A5707, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. A total of 2085 bp was sequenced, including about 300 bp of 5'-flanking DNA that includes several potential regulatory elements not available in the previously published 15-kDa zein-encoding gene (gZ15A) sequence. Several nt differences between gZ15.4.1 and gZ15A were observed, which include two single amino acid replacements.