The light-activated chalcone synthase (CHS) gene promoter was used to control the expression of a foreign gene-the uidA gene, whose product is beta-glucuronidase (GUS)-in tobacco BY-2 cell suspensions. Light enhanced GUS specific activity rapidly and greatly in transgenic BY-2 containing a fusion of the CHS promoter and uidA gene. GUS production was turned on/off by using a light/dark cycle. The level of promoter activity was almost proportional to the intensity of light, surpassing the strength of the 35S promoter of Cauliflower Mosaic Virus (CaMV). Intermittent illumination induced the same level of GUS production as continuous light. The CHS promoter is thus useful for producing a foreign protein in plant cell bioreactors.