The present invention provides gene regulatory element polynucleotide molecules, including a promoter and a leader, identified from the ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase activase (RUA) Zea mays gene, useful for expressing transgenes in plants. The invention further discloses compositions, polynucleotide constructs, transformed host cells, transgenic plants and seeds comprising the Zea mays gene regulatory molecules, and methods for preparing and using the same.