title: Sp1 represses IL-2 receptor alpha chain gene expression.
abstract: Sp1 is a DNA-binding protein that acts as a positive regulator of eukaryotic gene expression. The interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain (IL2R alpha) gene 5' regulatory region contains a single Sp1 consensus motif that overlaps a CArG box capable of binding serum response factor (SRF). The CArG box has previously been shown to be important for IL2R alpha gene expression. In this study, the results of competition experiments suggest that Sp1 and SRF compete for binding to the CArG region. Site-directed mutagenesis and transient transfection assays indicate that the IL2R alpha gene Sp1 serves the unusual role of repressing gene expression, most likely by competing for binding of nuclear factor(s) to the CArG box.
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology and Metabolism Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Roman
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Toledano
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Leonard
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D026362:Serum Response Factor; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D026362:Serum Response Factor; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor; D004247:DNA