A nuclear factor that binds to a conserved sequence motif in transcriptional control elements of immunoglobulin genes.
Trans-acting factors that mediate B-cell specific transcription of immunoglobulin genes have been postulated based on an analysis of the expression of exogenously introduced immunoglobulin gene recombinants in lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells. Two B-cell-specific, cis-acting transcriptional regulatory elements have been identified. One element is located in the intron between the variable (V) and constant (C) regions of both heavy and kappa light-chain genes and acts as a transcriptional enhancer. The second element is found upstream of both heavy and kappa light-chain gene promoters. This element directs lymphoid-specific transcription even in the presence of viral enhancers. We have sought nuclear factors that might bind specifically to these two regulatory elements by application of a modified gel electrophoresis DNA binding assay. We report here the identification of a human B-cell nuclear factor (IgNF-A) that binds to DNA sequences in the upstream regions of both the mouse heavy and kappa light-chain gene promoters and also to the mouse heavy-chain gene enhancer. This sequence-specific binding is probably mediated by a highly conserved sequence motif, ATTTGCAT, present in all three transcriptional elements. Interestingly, a factor showing similar binding specificity to IgNF-A is also present in human HeLa cells.
Singh
H
H
Sen
R
R
Baltimore
D
D
Sharp
P A
PA
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000235:genetics; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D014157:Transcription Factors