Promoters which are useful for constructing expression vectors for lactic acid bacteria were obtained from the chromosomal DNA of Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis MG1363. pBV5030, a promoter-selection vector, replicates in L. lactis and Escherichia coli and carries a promoterless chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene (cat-86). After examining E. coli transformants which grew on LB media containing chloramphenicol (Cm, 20$mu extrm{g}$/mL) , many MG1363 derived DNA fragments which encompass promoter sequences were identified. Some recombinant E. coli cells can grow at the Cm concentration of 1,000$mu extrm{g}$/mL. When plasmids from those highly resistant E. coli cells were purified and introduced into L. lactis ssp. lactis MG1614 cells by electroporation, lactococcal transformants showing Cm resistance were obtained. So far, five plasmids with different promoter inserts were introduced into L. lactis MGl614 cells. The maximum level of Cm resistance in L. lactis MG1614 transformants was quite low (20$mu extrm{g}$/mL) when compared with that observed in recombinant E. coli cells harboring the same plasmids.