The overlapping octamer/TAATGARAT motif is a high-affinity binding site for the cellular transcription factors Oct-1 and Oct-2.
The octamer motif in cellular promoters and the related TAATGARAT element in the herpes simplex virus (HSV) immediate-early promoters can both bind cellular octamer-binding proteins. The overlapping octamer/TAATGARAT elements (consensus ATGCTAATGARAT) found in the HSV-1 IE1 promoter thus represent a composite motif, each portion of which can independently bind octamer-binding protein. By comparing the binding characteristics of this composite motif with its individual elements, we show that it binds a single molecule of either Oct-1 or Oct-2 with much higher affinity than does either an octamer or TAATGARAT motif alone. This strong binding allows this element to direct a much higher level of gene expression when linked to a heterologous promoter than that observed with each of its individual components.
Dent
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Department of Biochemistry, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, London, U.K.
Latchman
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D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006367:HeLa Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D050813:Octamer Transcription Factor-2; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050813:Octamer Transcription Factor-2; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; C058435:POU2F2 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors