This invention discloses to compositions and methods for altering the characteristic pattern of expression associated with a promoter. More particularly the constitutive expression pattern associated with the small synthetic promoter, Rsyn7 is modified so that expression of a heterologous nucleotide sequence operably linked to the Rsyn7 promoter is in a tissue localized manner. This modification of the Rsyn7 pattern of expression occurs as a result of the addition of matrix attachment region DNA sequences to the flanks or 5' and 3' ends of an expression cassette comprising the Rsyn7 promoter operably linked to a heterologous nucleotide sequence of interest. DNA constructs, transformed plant cells and transformed plants are provided.