The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions are novel nucleotide sequences for promoters isolated from genes encoding soybean cyst nematode genes. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises transforming a plant cell with a heterologous nucleotide sequence operably linked to the promoters of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant from the transformed plant cell.