The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions include a novel nucleotide sequence for a maize metallothionein promoter for the gene encoding metallothionein. 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 or plant cell with a nucleotide sequence operably linked to one of the promoters of the present invention.