Among a number of antigens characterized in M leprae, an etiological agent of Leprosy, the 18 kDa antigen, is unique to M leprae. We have previously determined a sequence specific element in the 18 kDa gene of M leprae, which confers transcriptional repression. In this report, we have examined if the element could be applied to genes other than the 18 kDa gene of M leprae. To identify the roles of the regulatory sequence in heterologous promoter, we have constructed pB3 vector series, which contains BCG hsp65 promoter and the M leprae 18 kDa transcription repression responsive element in tandem using LacZ gene as a reporter gene. Cloning of hsp65 promoters of M bovis BCG or M smegmatis in front of LacZ gene resulted in normal $eta$­galactosidase activity as expected. However, when the sequence element was placed between the promoter and the LacZ gene, $eta$-galactosidase activity was reduced 10-fold less. Also we have examined with pB3(-) vector, that harbors the transcription repression responsive element in a reversed orientation, the $eta$-galactosidase activity was found to be similar to pB3(+) vector. Thus, these results further confirm that M leprae 18 kDa transcription repression responsive element could regulate BCG hsp65 heterologous promoter and that the element could act as an operator for the transcription of mycobacteria.