ATF Binding Site Research Articles

A complex promoter element mediates transactivation of the human proliferating cell nuclear antigen promoter by the 243-residue adenovirus E1A oncoprotein.

The adenovirus E1A oncoproteins interfere with the normal regulation of cellular proliferation through interactions with cell cycle regulatory proteins. In view of the essential role of proliferating-cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in DNA replication, we performed a mutational analysis of the minimal human PCNA promoter (nucleotides -87 to +62) to define sequence elements which mediate transactivation by the 243-residue E1A protein (E1A 243R). Linker-scanning and site-directed mutants were examined for basal and E1A-induced expression of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) from PCNA promoter-CAT reporter constructs transiently expressed in HeLa cells. The results define the cis-acting element required for induction of PCNA by E1A 243R as a region between -59 and -45 relative to the transcription initiation site. This PCNA E1A-responsive element (PERE), which is protected from DNase I digestion by nuclear extracts from 293 cells, includes the sequence AGCGTGG immediately upstream of the ATF binding site previously shown to be important for activation of PCNA by E1A 243R (G. F. Morris and M. B. Mathews, J. Virol. 65:6397-6406, 1991). Mutation of either the upstream component or the ATF site within the PERE diminishes basal promoter activity and abrogates transactivation by E1A 243R. This novel cis-acting element is also essential for both basal and E1A-induced expression in the context of the full-length PCNA promoter.

Human cytomegalovirus contains a tegument protein that enhances transcription from promoters with upstream ATF and AP-1 cis-acting elements.

The tegument proteins of human cytomegalovirus are introduced into cells as components of infectious virus. The tegument proteins may affect viral and cellular transcription prior to the synthesis of the immediate-early viral regulatory proteins. The phosphorylated tegument protein of 71 kDa (pp71) is reported to be encoded by the UL82 gene. The UL82 gene products transactivated promoters containing upstream ATF or AP-1 binding sites. In contrast, the phosphorylated tegument protein of 65 kDa (pp65), encoded by the UL83 gene, had no detectable effect on these promoters. Enhancement by UL82 of downstream transcription was directly proportional to the number of upstream ATF sites. Response to UL82 transactivation was abolished by mutation of the ATF site. Mutation in the carboxy-terminal region of UL82 also eliminated transactivation. Even though the major immediate-early promoter of human cytomegalovirus is a strong enhancer-containing promoter, UL82 further enhanced its transcription as much as 20-fold. The mechanism of UL82 enhancement of transcription from viral or cellular promoters is not known, but the enhancement may be mediated by triggering one of the protein kinase signaling pathways, increasing the affinity of ATF or AP-1 for the target sequence, or stabilizing the complex between the eucaryotic transcription factor and the target sequence.

Sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins are components of a nuclear matrix-attachment site.

We have identified a nuclear matrix-attachment region within an upstream element of a human H4 histone gene promoter. Nuclear matrix proteins, isolated and solubilized from HeLa S3 cells, were found to interact with sequence specificity at this matrix-attachment region. Several types of assays for protein-DNA interaction showed that the minimal sequence for the nuclear matrix protein-DNA interaction was 5'-TGACGTCCATG-3'; the underlined region corresponds to the core consensus sequence for ATF transcription factor binding. Two proteins with molecular masses of 43 and 54 kDa were identified by UV-crosslinking analysis as integral components of this protein-DNA complex. The molecular masses of these proteins and the ATF-binding site consensus sequence suggest that these proteins are members of the ATF family. Our results provide direct evidence for nuclear matrix localization of sequence-specific DNA-binding factors for an actively transcribed gene. The proximity of a strong positive transcriptional regulatory element to the matrix-attachment region of this gene suggests that the nuclear matrix may serve to localize and concentrate trans-acting factors that facilitate regulation of gene expression.

Nucleotide sequence and regulation of the adenovirus type 3 E2A early promoter

The nucleotide sequence of the adenovirus serotype 3 E2A early promoter has been determined. In contrast to Ad2, the Ad3 E2A early promoter possessed only one TATA-like box and one nuclear transcription factor E2F binding site and lacked the silencer sequences; however, as in Ad2, the ATF binding site was present. Moreover, the Ad3 E2A promoter harbored a protein binding sequence recognized by the SP1 factor. By transient expression analysis in HeLa cells, we demonstrated that the Ell A gene products of Ad3 and Ad2 stimulated Ad3 E2A transcription. In competition experiments, the Ad3 E2A promoter was used in preference to the Ad2 E2A promoter.

CAAT/enhancer binding protein is able to bind to ATF/CRE elements

The transcription factor C/EBP is known to be able to bind to two different classes of sites, a CAAT-box and one present in a number of viral enhancers. In this paper we show using band-shift assays, methylation interference and footprinting that C/EBP is also able to bind with high affinity to ATF/CRE sites. Competition with mutant ATF sites and methylation interference indicate that C/EBP may be able to bind to the ATF/CRE sites by virtue of their homology to the enhancer core elements. Furthermore, we show that C/EBP is able to direct transcription from this site in transient transfection experiments and that mutations in the ATF binding site that impair DNA binding also effect the ability of C/EBP to stimulate transcription.

E4F and ATF, Two Transcription Factors That Recognize the San Site, Can Be Distinguished Both Physically and Functionally: a Role for E4F in ElA trans Activation

Previous experiments have identified an element in the adenovirus E4 promoter that is critical for E1A-dependent trans activation and that can confer inducibility to a heterologous promoter. This DNA element is a recognition site for multiple nuclear factors, including ATF, which is likely a family of DNA-binding factors with similar DNA recognition properties. However, ATF activity was found not to be altered in any demonstrable way as a result of adenovirus infection. In contrast, another factor that recognizes this element, termed E4F, was found at only very low levels in uninfected cells but was increased markedly upon adenovirus infection, as measured in DNA-binding assays. Although both the ATF activity and the E4F activity recognized and bound to the same two sites in the E4 promoter, they differed in their sequence recognition of these sites. Furthermore, E4F bound only to a small subset of the ATF recognition sites; for instance, E4F did not recognize the ATF sites in the E2 or E3 promoters. Various E4F and ATF binding sites were inserted into an expression vector and tested by cotransfection assays for responsiveness to E1A. We found that a sequence capable of binding E4F could confer E1A inducibility. In contrast, a sequence that could bind ATF but not E4F did not confer E1A inducibility. We also found that E4F formed a stable complex with the E4 promoter, whereas the ATF DNA complex was unstable and rapidly dissociated. We conclude that the DNA-binding specificity of E4F as well as the alterations in DNA-binding activity of E4F closely correlates with E1A stimulation of the E4 promoter.

E4F and ATF, two transcription factors that recognize the same site, can be distinguished both physically and functionally: a role for E4F in E1A trans activation.

Previous experiments have identified an element in the adenovirus E4 promoter that is critical for E1A-dependent trans activation and that can confer inducibility to a heterologous promoter. This DNA element is a recognition site for multiple nuclear factors, including ATF, which is likely a family of DNA-binding factors with similar DNA recognition properties. However, ATF activity was found not to be altered in any demonstrable way as a result of adenovirus infection. In contrast, another factor that recognizes this element, termed E4F, was found at only very low levels in uninfected cells but was increased markedly upon adenovirus infection, as measured in DNA-binding assays. Although both the ATF activity and the E4F activity recognized and bound to the same two sites in the E4 promoter, they differed in their sequence recognition of these sites. Furthermore, E4F bound only to a small subset of the ATF recognition sites; for instance, E4F did not recognize the ATF sites in the E2 or E3 promoters. Various E4F and ATF binding sites were inserted into an expression vector and tested by cotransfection assays for responsiveness to E1A. We found that a sequence capable of binding E4F could confer E1A inducibility. In contrast, a sequence that could bind ATF but not E4F did not confer E1A inducibility. We also found that E4F formed a stable complex with the E4 promoter, whereas the ATF DNA complex was unstable and rapidly dissociated. We conclude that the DNA-binding specificity of E4F as well as the alterations in DNA-binding activity of E4F closely correlates with E1A stimulation of the E4 promoter.

Activating-transcription-factor (ATF) regulates human 7S L RNA transcription by RNA polymerase IIIin vivoandin vitro

The gene-external part of the human 7S L promoter was analyzed by transcription in vitro and in vivo. Compared to the wild type promoter (-178), a -66 5'deletion mutant revealed full activity in vitro but was inefficiently transcribed in vivo. Further deletion to -37 reduced template activity to 50% in vitro and to basal level expression in vivo (below 5%). A DNase I footprint observed around position -50 protected an ATF-like binding site ('TGACGT'). With respect to 7S L transcription regulation, the functionality of this ATF-like binding site was confirmed in competition experiments and by mutation analysis. Furthermore, S100 extracts of cells pretreated with forskolin in vivo to induce the cAMP system, revealed significantly increased transcription of 7S L RNA in vitro, with no effect on a 7S K RNA gene, lacking such an ATF binding site. Thus, the 7S L RNA gene too is controlled by a regulatory element originally defined in class II promoters and represents another rare example where a specific type of transcription regulation in vivo can be mimicked with cell-free extracts in vitro.

Transcription factor ATF cDNA clones: an extensive family of leucine zipper proteins able to selectively form DNA-binding heterodimers.

An activating transcription factor (ATF)-binding site (consensus sequence 5'-GTGACGTACAG-3') is a promoter element present in a wide variety of viral and cellular genes. The two best-characterized classes of genes that contain ATF sites are E1A-inducible adenoviral genes and cAMP-inducible cellular genes. Here, we report the isolation of eight ATF cDNA clones, each of which is derived from a separate gene. All ATF cDNA clones examined contain a leucine zipper motif and are significantly similar to one another only within this region. The leucine zipper region of ATF proteins is also similar to that of the AP-1/c-jun family of transcription factors, whose DNA-binding site differs from the ATF-binding site at a single position. DNA binding studies reveal two mechanisms for generating further diversity from the ATF proteins. First, some, but not all, combinations of ATF proteins form heterodimers that efficiently bind to DNA. Second, although all ATF proteins bind to the ATF site, their precise interactions with DNA differ from one another, as evidenced by methylation interference analysis. Our results help to explain how a single promoter element, an ATF site, can be present in a wide variety of promoters.

Distinguishable promoter elements are involved in transcriptional activation by E1a and cyclic AMP.

The sequence motif CGTCA is critical for binding of a group of cellular transcription factors (ATF, CREB, E4F, and EivF) and for activation of certain E1a-inducible and cyclic AMP (cAMP)-inducible promoters. We have tested different promoter elements containing the CGTCA motif (referred to here as ATF-binding sites) for the ability to function as E1a or cAMP response elements. The adenovirus E4 promoter and the cellular vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) promoter responded differently to E1a and cAMP, demonstrating that the activating potential of ATF-binding sites within these promoters is not equivalent. While particular ATF-binding sites were sufficient for the activity of both the E4 (E1a inducibility) and VIP (cAMP inducibility) enhancers, these two enhancers had contrasting effects on E1a- and cAMP-inducible transcription. Thus, the relationship between E1a- and cAMP-inducible transcription is not simply explained by the action of these two inducers through the same promoter elements.

Distinguishable Promoter Elements Are Involved in Transcriptional Activation by E1a and Cyclic AMP

The sequence motif CGTCA is critical for binding of a group of cellular transcription factors (ATF, CREB, E4F, and EivF) and for activation of certain E1a-inducible and cyclic AMP (cAMP)-inducible promoters. We have tested different promoter elements containing the CGTCA motif (referred to here as ATF-binding sites) for the ability to function as E1a or cAMP response elements. The adenovirus E4 promoter and the cellular vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) promoter responded differently to E1a and cAMP, demonstrating that the activating potential of ATF-binding sites within these promoters is not equivalent. While particular ATF-binding sites were sufficient for the activity of both the E4 (E1a inducibility) and VIP (cAMP inducibility) enhancers, these two enhancers had contrasting effects on E1a- and cAMP-inducible transcription. Thus, the relationship between E1a- and cAMP-inducible transcription is not simply explained by the action of these two inducers through the same promoter elements.

Utilization of signal transduction pathway by the human T-cell leukemia virus type I transcriptional activator tax

The human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) trans-activator (tax)-inducible enhancer was localized to three copies of 21-base-pair repeats within the long terminal repeat. Interestingly, the TGACG motif found in the center of the 21-base-pair tax-responsive element (TRE) is also present in the cyclic AMP (cAMP)-responsive elements (CREs) and activating transcription factor (ATF)-binding sites. In this study, we demonstrate that the three TRE-binding proteins, TREB-1, TREB-2, and TREB-3, also bind to various CREs and ATF-binding sites and that the TREs can confer upon a heterologous promoter responsiveness to various inducing agents, including tax, cAMP, and E1a. Furthermore, the transcriptional activation of the HTLV-I promoter by tax can be inhibited by several protein kinase inhibitors, including sangivamycin. Our results indicate that the TREs, CREs, and ATF-binding sites are similar cis-acting elements and further suggest (i) that the transcriptional activation of the HTLV-I promoter by tax involves the action of a protein kinase and (ii) that induction by tax, cAMP, and E1a might be mediated by distinct factors or kinases.

Independent cyclic AMP and E1A induction of adenovirus early region 4 expression

A cellular transcription factor, ATF, binds to a repeated element in the adenovirus early region 4 (E4) promoter. ATF also binds to other viral early promoter regions and to the cyclic AMP (cAMP) response elements of cellular genes. In this report, we demonstrate that a single ATF-binding site located immediately upstream of the E4 TATA box, between -62 and -46, mediates induction of E4 transcription by 8-bromoadenosine-3',5-cyclic monophosphate or cholera toxin in the human hepatoma cell line HepG2 and rat pheochromocytoma cell line PC12. Different ATF-binding sites in the E4 control region independently conferred cAMP inducibility on the simian virus 40 early promoter in PC12 cells. Induction of E4 expression by cAMP was also observed in virus-infected HepG2 cells. Other viral early promoter regions that contain ATF-binding sites (E1A and E2A) were also induced by cAMP in infected cells. E4 expression was activated by the E1A 13S mRNA products in HepG2 cells. E1A trans activation appears to be distinct from the cAMP response.

The Adenovirus EIIA Enhancer: Analysis of regulatory sequences and changes in binding activity of ATF and EIIF following adenovirus infection

Adenovirus EIIA upstream sequences which contain the binding sites for proteins ATF and EIIF act as an enhancer and can be trans-activated by both E1A and SV40 T/t-antigens. Specific mutation of either the ATF or EIIF binding site demonstrates that both act as positive regulators, decreasing transcription greater than 10-fold. Mutation of both the ATF and EIIF binding sites inhibited the EIIA enhancer 200-fold. Analysis of insertion mutations suggests that the spatial alignment of the upstream ATF and EIIF binding sites with respect to the downstream EIIF binding site on the DNA helix is important. Consistent with previous findings, using gel shift analysis we demonstrate that the binding activity of EIIF is increased following wild-type adenovirus infection. In contrast, using identical gel shift conditions, the binding activity of ATF is decreased by viral infection.

Mammalian cAMP-responsive element can activate transcription in yeast and binds a yeast factor(s) that resembles the mammalian transcription factor ANF.

The human ATF and AP1 transcription factors bind to highly related DNA sequences. Their consensus binding sites differ by a single nucleotide, but this single change is crucial in determining factor binding specificity. We have previously identified an AP1 (yAP1) binding activity in yeast. In this report we identify a yeast ATF (yATF) binding activity whose specificity can be distinguished from that of yAP1 by the same crucial nucleotide that distinguishes binding of human ATF and AP1. The ATF binding site can act as an efficient upstream activating sequence in vivo, suggesting that yATF is a transcriptional activator. The yATF DNA-binding complex is phosphorylated and the binding activity of partially purified yATF can be enhanced in vitro by the addition of protein kinase A, indicating that the phosphorylation state of yATF may be important in determining its ability to bind DNA.

Analysis of the role of the transcription factor ATF in the assembly of a functional preinitiation complex

In the accompanying paper (Horikoshi et al., 1988) the interaction between ATF and the general transcription initiation factors was analyzed by DNAase I footprinting experiments. Here, we use transcription assays to investigate the role of ATF in the assembly of a functional preinitiation complex. Addition of an oligonucleotide containing an ATF binding site inhibits E4 transcription by sequestering ATF. However, following preincubation of the E4 promoter in the nuclear extract, transcription is refractory to inhibition by the ATF oligonucleotide. Formation of this oligonucleotide-refractory complex occurs at an early stage in the overall transcription initiation reaction and is dependent upon ATF and the general transcription factors RNA polymerase II, TFIIB, and TFIID. This latter result suggests that the assembly and maintenance of a functional preinitiation complex involves cooperative interactions among the various transcription factors. The general transcription factor TFIIE, although required for transcriptional activity, is not involved in the assembly of an ATF oligonucleotide-refractory complex. Our results support the possibility that ATF may be required only transiently for assembly of a functional preinitiation complex.