Abstract

The Moloney murine leukemia virus (Mo-MLV) enhancer contains binding sites (LVb and LVc) for the ets gene family of proteins and a core site that binds the polyomavirus enhancer-binding protein 2/core-binding factor (cbf) family of proteins. The LVb and core sites in the Mo-MLV enhancer contribute to its constitutive activity in T cells. All three binding sites (LVb, LVc, and core) are required for phorbol ester inducibility of the Mo-MLV enhancer. Adjacent binding sites for the ets and cbf proteins likewise constitute a phorbol ester response element within the human T-cell receptor beta-chain (TCR beta) enhancer and contribute to constitutive transcriptional activity of the TCR beta enhancer in T cells. Here we show that the CBF alpha subunit encoded by the mouse Cbfa2 gene (the murine homolog of human AML1) and three ets proteins, Ets-1, Ets-2, and GA-binding protein (GABP), transactivate both the Mo-MLV and mouse TCR beta enhancer in transient-expression assays. Moreover, we show that transactivation by Cbf alpha 2 requires both intact ets and cbf binding sites. Transactivation by Ets-1, Ets-2, and GABP likewise requires intact binding sites for ets proteins and CBF. Supportive biochemical analyses demonstrate that both proteins can bind simultaneously to a composite enhancer element. These findings suggest that ets and cbf proteins cooperate in vivo to regulate transcription from the Mo-MLV and TCR beta enhancers.