The present invention provides eukaryotic translation initiation factor non-coding regulatory element polynucleotide molecules isolated from Nicotiana tabacum, Arabidopsis thaliana, and Medicago truncatula useful for modulating transgene expression in plants. The present invention also provides expression constructs containing the polynucleotide molecules useful for modulating transgene expression in plants. The present invention also provides transgenic plants and seeds containing the polynucleotide molecules useful for modulating transgene expression in plants.