The Arabidopsis NI16 gene was isolated in a yeast 2-hybrid screen via its interaction with the NIM1 protein and encodes a protein involved in the regulation of SAR gene expression in plants. NI16 is strongly induced in NIM1-overexpressing plants treated with benzo(1,2,3)thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester (BTH). The nucleic acid sequence of the Arabidopsis NI16 promoter is disclosed herein.