Maize genomic clones encoding cytokinin-inducible response regulators, ZmRR1 and ZmRR2, have been isolated. In comparison with the corresponding cDNAs, ZmRR2 was found to be interrupted in the translated region by an intron whereas ZmRR1 was not. The 5'-flanking regions of the two genes shared conserved regions and putative cis-elements, which had been identified in maize or other plant species. The run-on transcription assay and the analysis of stable maize transformants of ZmRR1 promoter-beta-glucuronidase fusion gene revealed that the accumulation of the transcripts in response to cytokinins is, at least in parts, attributed by transcriptional activation.