Ethanol-inducible gene expression system and its applications in plant functional genomics

External control of gene expression in plants is critical to both characterization of gene function and plant biotechnology. Ethanol-inducible gene expression system ('alc switch') is such a system suitable for regulated expression of transgene or native gene in plants temporally, spatially and quantitatively. The alc switch consists of two expression cassettes:p35S:alcR and palcA:target gene. The system has high specificity and efficiency. The induction exhibits a rapid, reversible and dose-dependent manner. Ethanol, the chemical inducer, is non-toxic, inexpensive, safe and easy to apply both in lab and field. The alc switch has been successfully used in Arabidopsis, tobacco, potato, oilseed rape and other plant species. It is believed that alc switch will have broad utility in plant functional genomics and molecular farming.