Distinct Regulatory Sequences Research Articles

Gene duplication and co-evolution of G1/S transcription factor specificity in fungi are essential for optimizing cell fitness.

Transcriptional regulatory networks play a central role in optimizing cell survival. How DNA binding domains and cis-regulatory DNA binding sequences have co-evolved to allow the expansion of transcriptional networks and how this contributes to cellular fitness remains unclear. Here we experimentally explore how the complex G1/S transcriptional network evolved in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by examining different chimeric transcription factor (TF) complexes. Over 200 G1/S genes are regulated by either one of the two TF complexes, SBF and MBF, which bind to specific DNA binding sequences, SCB and MCB, respectively. The difference in size and complexity of the G1/S transcriptional network across yeast species makes it well suited to investigate how TF paralogs (SBF and MBF) and DNA binding sequences (SCB and MCB) co-evolved after gene duplication to rewire and expand the network of G1/S target genes. Our data suggests that whilst SBF is the likely ancestral regulatory complex, the ancestral DNA binding element is more MCB-like. G1/S network expansion took place by both cis- and trans- co-evolutionary changes in closely related but distinct regulatory sequences. Replacement of the endogenous SBF DNA-binding domain (DBD) with that from more distantly related fungi leads to a contraction of the SBF-regulated G1/S network in budding yeast, which also correlates with increased defects in cell growth, cell size, and proliferation.

A Versatile Transfection Assay System to Evaluate the Biological Effects of Diverse Industrial Chemicals

Gene expression processes are now recognized as important targets of the toxic effects exerted by industrial chemicals. The transient transfection assay is a powerful tool to evaluate such effects. Thus, we developed a versatile assay system by constructing a basic reporter plasmid in which the regulatory DNA sequence to be studied can easily be substituted. To verify the performance of this system, reporter plasmids carrying any of the three distinct regulatory sequences, estrogen responsive element (ERE), glucocorticoid responsive element (GRE) and xenobiotic responsive element (XRE) were constructed. After transfection of human cells, these plasmids successfully expressed the relevant reporter genes in response to specific inducers, β-estradiol, dexamethasone and 3-methylcholanthrene, respectively. Several industrial chemicals were assayed using these reporter plasmids, and the ability of p-dimethylaminoazobenzene to elevate GRE- and XRE-mediated transcription was detected. α-Naphthylamine and o-tolidine were also observed to increase the XRE-mediated response. The transfection assay system established here will be useful to evaluate the effects of a wide variety of industrial chemicals.

Duality of Enhancer Functioning Mode Revealed in a Reduced TCRβ Gene Enhancer Knockin Mouse Model

The TCRbeta gene enhancer (Ebeta) commands TCRbeta gene expression through the lifespan of T lymphocytes. Genetic and molecular studies have implied that in early thymocytes, Ebeta directs chromatin opening over the Dbeta-Jbeta-Cbeta domains and triggers initial Dbeta-Jbeta recombination. In mature T cells, Ebeta is required for expression of the assembled TCRbeta gene. Whether these separate activities rely on distinct Ebeta regulatory sequences and involve differing modes of activation is unclear. Using gene targeting in mouse embryonic stem cells, we replaced Ebeta by a conserved core fragment (Ebeta169). We found that Ebeta169-carrying alleles were capable of sustaining beta gene expression and the development of mature T cells in homozygous knockin mice. Surprisingly, these procedures and underlying molecular transactions were affected to a wide range of degrees depending on the developmental stage. Early thymocytes barely achieved Dbeta-Jbeta germline transcription and recombination. In contrast, T cells displayed substantial though heterogeneous levels of VDJ-rearranged TCRbeta gene expression. Our results have implications regarding enhancer function in cells of the adaptive immune system and, potentially, TCRbeta gene recombination and allelic exclusion.

Gene Expression Profiling of the Forming Atrioventricular Node Using a Novel Tbx3 -Based Node-Specific Transgenic Reporter

The atrioventricular (AV) node is a recurrent source of potentially life-threatening arrhythmias. Nevertheless, limited data are available on its developmental control or molecular phenotype. We used a novel AV nodal myocardium-specific reporter mouse to gain insight into the gene programs determining the formation and phenotype of the developing AV node. In this reporter, green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression was driven by a 160-kbp bacterial artificial chromosome with Tbx3 and flanking sequences. GFP was selectively active in the AV canal of embryos and AV node of adults, whereas the Tbx3-positive AV bundle and sinus node were devoid of GFP, demonstrating that distinct regulatory sequences and pathways control expression in the components of the conduction system. Fluorescent AV nodal and complementary Nppa-positive chamber myocardial cell populations of embryonic day 10.5 embryos and of embryonic day 17.5 fetuses were purified using fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and their expression profiles were assessed by genome-wide microarray analysis, providing valuable information concerning their molecular identities. We constructed a comprehensive list of sodium, calcium, and potassium channel genes specific for developing nodal or chamber myocardium. Furthermore, the data revealed that the AV node and the chamber (working) myocardium phenotypes diverge during development but that the functional gene classes characterizing both subtypes are maintained. One of the repertoires identified in the AV node-specific gene profiles consists of multiple neurotrophic factors and semaphorins, not yet appreciated to play a role in nodal development, revealing shared characteristics between nodal and nervous system development.

Distinct Regulation of Developmental and Heart Disease–Induced Atrial Natriuretic Factor Expression by Two Separate Distal Sequences

Nppa, encoding atrial natriuretic factor, is expressed in fetal atrial and ventricular myocardium and is downregulated in the ventricles after birth. During hypertrophy and heart failure, Nppa expression is reactivated in the ventricles and serves as a highly conserved marker of heart disease. The Nppa promoter has become a frequently used model to study mechanisms of cardiac gene regulation. Nevertheless, the regulatory sequences that provide the correct developmental pattern and ventricular reactivation during cardiac disease remain to be defined. We found that proximal Nppa fragments ranging from 250 bp to 16 kbp provide robust reporter gene activity in the atria and correct repression in the atrioventricular canal and the nodes of the conduction system in vivo. However, depending on fragment size and site of integration into the genome of mice, the fetal ventricular activity was either absent or present in an incorrect pattern. Furthermore, these fragments did not provide ventricular reactivation in heart disease models. These results indicate that the proximal promoter does not provide a physiologically relevant model for ventricular gene activity. In contrast, 2 modified bacterial artificial chromosome clones with partially overlapping genomic Nppa sequences provided appropriate reactivation of the green fluorescent protein reporter during pressure overload-induced hypertrophy and heart failure in vivo. However, only 1 of these bacterial artificial chromosomes provided correct fetal ventricular green fluorescent protein activity. These results show that distinct distal regulatory sequences and divergent regulatory pathways control fetal ventricular activity and reactivation of Nppa during cardiac disease, respectively.

Epigenetic Modifications of Distinct Sequences of thep1Regulatory Gene Specify Tissue-Specific Expression Patterns in Maize

Tandemly repeated endogenous genes are common in plants, but their transcriptional regulation is not well characterized. In maize, the P1-wr allele of pericarp color1 is composed of multiple copies arranged in a head-to-tail fashion. P1-wr confers a white kernel pericarp and red cob glume pigment phenotype that is stably inherited over generations. To understand the molecular mechanisms that regulate tissue-specific expression of P1-wr, we have characterized P1-wr*, a spontaneous loss-of-function epimutation that shows a white kernel pericarp and white cob glume phenotype. As compared to its progenitor P1-wr, the P1-wr* is hypermethylated in exon 1 and intron 2 regions. In the presence of the epigenetic modifier Ufo1 (Unstable factor for orange1), P1-wr* plants exhibit a range of cob glume pigmentation whereas pericarps remain colorless. In these plants, the level of cob pigmentation directly correlates with the degree of DNA demethylation in the intron 2 region of p1. Further, genomic bisulfite sequencing indicates that a 168-bp region of intron 2 is significantly hypomethylated in both CG and CNG context in P1-wr* Ufo1 plants. Interestingly, P1-wr* Ufo1 plants did not show any methylation change in a distal enhancer region that has previously been implicated in Ufo1-induced gain of pericarp pigmentation of the P1-wr allele. These results suggest that distinct regulatory sequences in the P1-wr promoter and intron 2 regions can undergo independent epigenetic modifications to generate tissue-specific expression patterns.

Intergenic enhancers with distinct activities regulate Dlx gene expression in the mesenchyme of the branchial arches

The vertebrate Dlx genes, generally organized as tail-to-tail bigene clusters, are expressed in the branchial arch epithelium and mesenchyme with nested proximodistal expression implicating a code that underlies the fates of jaws. Little is known of the regulatory architecture that is responsible for Dlx gene expression in developing arches. We have identified two distinct cis-acting regulatory sequences, I12a and I56i, in the intergenic regions of the Dlx1/2 and Dlx5/6 clusters that act as enhancers in the arch mesenchyme. LacZ transgene expression containing I12a is restricted to a subset of Dlx-expressing ectomesenchyme in the first arch. The I56i enhancer is active in a broader domain in the first arch mesenchyme. Expression of transgenes containing either the I12a or the I56i enhancers is dependent on the presence of epithelium between the onset of their expression at E9–10 until independence at E11. Both enhancers positively respond to FGF8 and FGF9; however, the responses of the reporter transgenes were limited to their normal domain of expression. BMP4 had a negative effect on expression of both transgenes and counteracted the effects of FGF8. Furthermore, bosentan, a pharmacological inhibitor of Endothelin-1 signaling caused a loss of I56i-lacZ expression in the most distal aspects of the expression domain, corresponding to the area of Dlx-6 expression previously shown to be under the control of Endothelin-1. Thus, the combinatorial branchial arch expression of Dlx genes is achieved through interactions between signaling pathways and intrinsic cellular factors. I56i drives the entire expression of Dlx5/6 in the first arch and contains necessary sequences for regulation by at least three separate pathways, whereas I12a only replicates a small domain of endogenous expression, regulated in part by BMP-4 and FGF-8.

Alternative promoters and polyadenylation regulate tissue-specific expression of Hemogen isoforms during hematopoiesis and spermatogenesis.

Hemogen is a nuclear protein encoded by HEMGN (also known as hemogen in mouse, EDAG in human and RP59 in rat). It is considered to be a hematopoiesis-specific gene that is expressed during the ontogeny of hematopoiesis. Herein, we characterize two distinct splicing variants of HEMGN mRNA with restricted expression to hematopoietic cells and to round spermatids in the testis, respectively. Expression of the testis-specific HEMGN mRNA (HEMGN-t) is developmentally regulated and is concurrent with the first wave of meiosis in prepuberal mice. Sequence analysis reveals that HEMGN-t and the hematopoietic HEMGN mRNA (HEMGN-h) share a common coding sequence with distinct 5' and 3' untranslated regions and that these two isoforms are transcribed from the same gene locus, HEMGN, through the use of alternative promoters and polyadenylation sites. Thus, HEMGN expression exemplifies a developmental regulatory mechanism by which the diversification of gene expression is achieved through using distinct regulatory sequences in different cell types. Moreover, the existence of a testis-specific isoform of HEMGN suggests a role in spermatogenesis. Finally, fluorescence in situ hybridization demonstrates that HEMGN is localized to chromosome 4 A5-B2 in mouse and to chromosome 9q22 in human, which is a region known to harbor a cluster of leukemia breakpoints.

Somatic and germinal excision activities of the Arabidopsis transposon Tag1 are controlled by distinct regulatory sequences within Tag1.

Various sequences within Tag1, the endogenous transposon of Arabidopsis, were examined to determine how Tag1 excision and expression are regulated. The 5' intron for the major 2.3-kb Tag1 transcript was found to be critical for the accumulation of Tag1 transcripts and for high rates of somatic excision. This was true for the autonomous element in cauliflower mosaic virus 35S-Tag1-beta-glucuronidase constructs and for a two-component system using the 35S promoter to produce Tag1 transposase and a beta-glucuronidase::dTag1 marker construct to score for excision. The 3' introns of Tag1, although not needed for high transposase expression in primary transgenic plants, were important for maintaining high levels of somatic excision and accumulation of the major but not the minor Tag1 transcripts in subsequent generations. With both 5' and 3' introns present, exchanging the 5' promoter region of Tag1 with the 35S promoter did not affect the timing of Tag1 excision significantly, but it did disrupt germinal excision. Removal of the 5' intron did not abolish germinal excision activity, however. These results indicate that somatic and germinal excision of Tag1 are differentially controlled, with the 5' promoter region being critical for germinal excision activity and the 5' intron playing an important role for somatic excision, possibly via intron-mediated enhancement.

Somatic and Germinal Excision Activities of the Arabidopsis Transposon Tag1 Are Controlled by Distinct Regulatory Sequences within Tag1

Somatic and Germinal Excision Activities of the Arabidopsis Transposon Tag1 Are Controlled by Distinct Regulatory Sequences within Tag1

Somatic and Germinal Excision Activities of the Arabidopsis Transposon Tag1 Are Controlled by Distinct Regulatory Sequences within Tag1

Somatic and Germinal Excision Activities of the Arabidopsis Transposon Tag1 Are Controlled by Distinct Regulatory Sequences within Tag1

Chromatin structure and functional analysis of the mouse HNF3alpha gene.

The transcription factor HNF3alpha is a member of the winged-helix family of regulatory proteins. It is expressed in the definitive endoderm, notochord, and neural tube in embryos, but in the adult is expressed primarily in endoderm-derived tissues such as liver, lung, and pancreas. We present here the cloning of the mouse HNF3alpha gene and a characterization of its chromatin structure and regulatory sequences. The HNF3alpha gene is encoded by two exons and its transcription initiates at multiple start sites at a TATA-less promoter that is highly conserved between mouse and rat. We found different patterns of DNaseI hypersensitive sites in HNF3alpha gene chromatin in different adult tissues in which HNF3alpha is expressed, suggesting distinct regulatory mechanisms occurring within different tissue derivatives of the endoderm germ layer. Cell transfection data indicate that sequences spanning certain upstream hypersensitive sites can enhance transcription from the HNF3alpha promoter, but only when stably integrated into chromatin and not when transiently transfected. The results suggest a complex regulatory interplay between distinct genetic regulatory sequences that function specifically in chromatin.

Formin isoforms are differentially expressed in the mouse embryo and are required for normal expression of fgf-4 and shh in the limb bud.

Mice homozygous for the recessive limb deformity (ld) mutation display both limb and renal defects. The limb defects, oligodactyly and syndactyly, have been traced to improper differentiation of the apical ectodermal ridge (AER) and shortening of the anteroposterior limb axis. The renal defects, usually aplasia, are thought to result from failure of ureteric bud outgrowth. Since the ld locus gives rise to multiple RNA isoforms encoding several different proteins (termed formins), we wished to understand their role in the formation of these organs. Therefore, we first examined the embryonic expression patterns of the four major ld mRNA isoforms. Isoforms I, II and III (all containing a basic amino terminus) are expressed in dorsal root ganglia, cranial ganglia and the developing kidney including the ureteric bud. Isoform IV (containing an acidic amino terminus) is expressed in the notochord, the somites, the apical ectodermal ridge (AER) of the limb bud and the developing kidney including the ureteric bud. Using a lacZ reporter assay in transgenic mice, we show that this differential expression of isoform IV results from distinct regulatory sequences upstream of its first exon. These expression patterns suggest that all four isoforms may be involved in ureteric bud outgrowth, while isoform IV may be involved in AER differentiation. To define further the developmental consequences of the ld limb defect, we analyzed the expression of a number of genes thought to play a role in limb development. Most significantly, we find that although the AERs of ld limb buds express several AER markers, they do not express detectable levels of fibroblast growth factor 4 (fgf-4), which has been proposed to be the AER signal to the mesoderm. Thus we conclude that one or more formins are necessary to initiate and/or maintain fgf-4 production in the distal limb. Since ld limbs form distal structures such as digits, we further conclude that while fgf-4 is capable of supporting distal limb outgrowth in manipulated limbs, it is not essential for distal outgrowth in normal limb development. In addition, ld limbs show a severe decrease in the expression of several mesodermal markers, including sonic hedgehog (shh), a marker for the polarizing region and Hoxd-12, a marker for posterior mesoderm. We propose that incomplete differentiation of the AER in ld limb buds leads to reduction of polarizing activity and defects along the anteroposterior axis.

The V(D)J recombinational and transcriptional activities of the immunoglobulin heavy-chain intronic enhancer can be mediated through distinct protein-binding sites in a transgenic substrate.

Immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor gene transcriptional enhancers encompass sequences which stimulate V(D)J recombination of associated variable gene segments. To address the question of whether enhancer-mediated transcriptional activation and recombinational activation depend on the same cis-regulatory sequences, we have produced transgenic mice by using recombination substrates containing various mutations in the immunoglobulin heavy-chain intronic enhancer (E mu). Analysis of substrate rearrangements indicated that specific compound elements including E-box transcriptional motifs are crucial for the recombinational activity of E mu in the developing B and T lymphocytes. In most cases, a faithful correlation between the levels of substrate germ line transcription and recombination was observed. However, some of the E mu mutants which were able to activate transcription of the unrearranged substrate were inefficient in stimulating transgene recombination, implying that the latter function depends on molecular events other than the mere activation of transcription and that both activities can be mediated through distinct regulatory sequences. Together, these results support a model in which lymphoid gene enhancers, in addition to providing docking sites for factors that dictate transcriptional accessibility, must have some specific function(s) for activating V(D)J recombination.

Regulation of c-fos expression in transgenic mice requires multiple interdependent transcription control elements

Transcription control regions of eukaryotic genes contain multiple sequence elements proposed to function independently to regulate transcription. We developed transgenic mice carrying fos-lacZ fusion genes with clustered point mutations in each of several distinct regulatory sequences: the sis-inducible element, the serum response element, the fos AP-1 site, and the calcium/cAMP response element. Analysis of Fos-lacZ expression in the CNS and in cultured cells demonstrated that all of the regulatory elements tested were required in concert for tissue- and stimulus-specific regulation of the c-fos promoter. This implies that the regulation of c-fos expression requires the concerted action of multiple control elements that direct the assembly of an interdependent transcription complex.

Beta 2-adrenoreceptors stimulate c-fos transcription through multiple cyclic AMP- and Ca(2+)-responsive elements in cerebellar granular neurons.

Neurons from the granular layer of the cerebellum express functional beta 2-adrenoreceptors (beta 2-ARs). We show that stimulation of beta 2-ARs with isoprenaline increases cyclic AMP (cAMP) production and stimulates transcription of genes containing the cAMP-responsive element (CRE; TGACGTCA). This effect is mediated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase and the trans-acting factor CRE binding protein. Transcriptional regulation by the beta 2-AR was investigated by using the c-fos protooncogene as a model system. We show that beta 2-ARs stimulate c-fos mRNA accumulation, increase AP1 binding activity, and stimulate transcription through the phorbol ester-responsive element (TGACTCA). The transcriptional regulation of c-fos itself was studied with reporter constructs driven by c-fos promoter sequences. Deletion studies revealed that beta 2-ARs stimulate c-fos transcription through at least three distinct regulatory sequences: (a) the CRE located at -60 bp 5' to the initiation site, (b) the fos AP1-like element (-291 to -297), and (c) the serum-responsive element (-297 to -317). The regulation of these elements by the two putative second messengers of the beta 2-AR, cAMP and Ca2+, was analyzed. We report that all three of these regulatory sequences are coregulated by both second messengers. These results indicate that beta 2-ARs stimulate c-fos transcription by multiple cAMP- and Ca(2+)-dependent regulatory elements in neurons.

Activation of the heat shock transcription factor by hypoxia in normal and tumor cell lines in vivo and in vitro

Cells exposed to hypoxia increase their synthesis of a specific set of proteins called oxygen regulated proteins. Recently, three of these proteins have been identified as hemoxygenase, Glucose Regulated Protein 78 kilodaltons and Glucose Regulated Protein 94 kilodaltons. In contrast, reoxygenation from hypoxic conditions increases the synthesis of the heat shock proteins. Although the molecular signals required for regulation of both sets of proteins by hypoxia and reoxygenation are still under investigation, it is known that their expression is regulated at the transcriptional level. This finding suggests that these stresses work either singularly or together to control the activation of nuclear transcription factors which bind distinct regulatory sequences in the promoter region of these genes. One possible nuclear transcription factor which could act as a transcriptional regulator for both hypoxia and reoxygenation gene transcription is the heat shock transcription factor. In this report, we focused on the kinetics of HSF activation by hypoxia in normal and tumor cell lines of murine and human origins. In cell culture, both the normal diploid cell line AG1522 and the tumor cell line JSQ-3 possess the same kinetics of HSF activation (binding to the heat shock element) by hypoxia, with maximal induction at or after 3 hr. We have also shown that the activation of HSF occurs in the SCCV1I tumor in vivo without clamping, but not in SCCVII cells grown in monolayers. When SCCVII tumors are dissociated and allowed to reoxygenate in cell culture, HSF binding decreased in 5 hr, and was undetectable after 18 hr. Furthermore, one human tumor biopsy tested for the presence of hypoxia by both the PO 2 histograph (Eppendorf, Germany) and HSF binding showed good agreement for both techniques. These results suggest that HSF binding may be a useful marker for monitoring the tumor hypoxia.

Complex pattern of immunoglobulin mu gene expression in normal and transgenic mice: nonoverlapping regulatory sequences govern distinct tissue specificities.

Analysis of normal mice and transgenic mice carrying a rearranged immunoglobulin mu gene revealed a more complex tissue-specific pattern of mu gene expression than anticipated from previous observations. Expression of the endogenous mu locus and the mu transgene was detected both in lymphoid tissues and in skeletal muscle. Analysis of the expression pattern of mu transgenes containing intragenic deletions or point mutations in binding sites for Oct transcription factors (OCTA sites) indicated that distinct regulatory sequences control lymphoid- and muscle-specific mu gene expression. Consistent with previous transfection experiments, mu gene expression in lymphoid tissues is dependent on the intragenic enhancer and the OCTA site in the promoter. However, neither of these regulatory sequences is required for mu gene expression in skeletal muscle that is governed by a muscle-specific control region located 3' of the enhancer. An "off-state" of the mu transgene was observed only in liver and embryonal fibroblasts, whereas enhancer-dependent mu transgene expression was detected at low levels in other nonlymphoid tissues. From these data we suggest a model for the regulation of tissue-specific mu gene expression in which a "ubiquitous" competence for basal transcription is up-regulated in lymphoid and muscle tissues by distinct cell type-specific regulatory sequences and down-regulated in liver and fibroblastic cells by putative negative sequence elements.

Enhancer and Promoter Element Interactions Dictate Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate Mediated and Cell-Specific Expression of the Glycoprotein Hormone α-Gene

The glycoprotein hormone alpha-gene is preferentially expressed in placental cell lines, but it is also expressed in several other cell lines indicating that the differential activity of the alpha-gene regulatory elements in various cell types is more quantitative than qualitative. The 5'-flanking region of the alpha-gene contains several distinct DNA regulatory sequences including an upstream regulatory element [(URE) -181 to -150 base pairs (bp)] that stimulates basal expression and an 18 bp twice-repeated cAMP-responsive element [(CRE) -146 to -111 bp]. We constructed an array of fusion genes containing the URE and/or the CRE linked to different truncated promoters [alpha-gene, somatostatin (SRIF), glucagon, Simian Virus 40]. These constructions were transiently expressed in placental, fibroblast, or islet cell lines to identify regulatory sequences involved in cell-specific expression as well as interactions between the URE, the CRE, and different promoter elements. The URE, CRE, and alpha-promoter elements contribute approximately 3-, 6-, and 5-fold, respectively, to preferential expression in JEG-3 cells. In JEG-3 cells, the URE is strictly dependent on the CRE for activity, but it functions in a promoter-independent manner. In contrast, the CRE is markedly promoter dependent. When linked to heterologous enhancers, the alpha-promoter is more active in JEG-3 cells than in other cell lines, thereby contributing substantially to preferential expression in placental cells. Although the CREs derived from the alpha and SRIF genes both activate expression of the alpha promoter, only the alpha CRE activates the SRIF promoter in JEG-3 cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Calcium and growth factor pathways of c-fos transcriptional activation require distinct upstream regulatory sequences.

Transcription of the c-fos proto-oncogene is rapidly induced in the rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cell line by a wide variety of stimuli, including polypeptide growth factors, phorbol esters, and calcium ion fluxes. We have mapped the upstream sequence requirements for this activation in PC12 cells by analysis of promoter deletion mutants in a transient expression assay. Two distinct pathways of c-fos induction are defined that differ in their requirement for cis-acting DNA sequences. Calcium activation of c-fos transcription is dependent on a DNA element located approximately 60 base pairs upstream of the transcription start site. This region is highly conserved between human, mouse, and chicken c-fos genes and contains a sequence that resembles the consensus for a cyclic AMP response element. The dyad symmetry element at position -300, which is necessary for serum responsiveness of c-fos, appears to be unimportant for calcium activation of the gene. The dyad symmetry element is, however, an essential cis-acting sequence for c-fos inducibility by nerve growth factor, epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, and the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate. Studies in vivo and in vitro with various mutants of the dyad symmetry element indicate that c-fos activation by polypeptide growth factors and 12-O-tetradecanoyl activation by polypeptide growth factors and 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate is mediated by a common transcription factor, and that this factor is identical to the previously described serum response factor. In vitro DNA-binding assays suggest that the quantity of serum response factor-binding activity remains unchanged during c-fos transcriptional activation.