The present invention provides non-coding regulatory element polynucleotide molecules isolated from the At.PLD.delta. gene or the At.HVA22e gene of Arabidopsis thaliana and useful for expressing transgenes in plants. The invention further discloses compositions, polynucleotide constructs, transformed host cells, transgenic plants and seeds containing the Arabidopsis thaliana regulatory polynucleotide sequences, and methods for preparing and using the same.