The interferon-inducible Stat2:Stat1 heterodimer preferentially binds in vitro to a consensus element found in the promoters of a subset of interferon-stimulated genes.

Regulated expression of type I interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes (ISG) requires the binding of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat) complexes to enhancer elements located in the ISG promoters. These enhancer elements include the IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE) and the palindromic IFN-gamma activation site (GAS) element. Regulated expression of ISRE containing ISG depends on IFN-stimulated gene factor 3 (ISGF3), a heterodimer involving Stat1 and Stat2 in association with a DNA-binding adapter protein, p48/IFN regulatory factor-9 (IRF-9). Several GAS binding Stat complexes involving Stat1, Stat3, Stat4, and Stat5 have been described, but their contribution to GAS-dependent ISG expression remains to be established. We and others previously identified an IFN-alpha-inducible Stat2:1 heterodimer that exhibits binding to the GAS element of the IRF-1 gene. These previous studies raise the possibility that Stat2:1 may participate in the transcriptional activation of the subset of ISG containing GAS elements. To address this question, we performed a PCR-assisted binding site selection procedure to define the Stat2:1 recognition sequence. The data reveal that Stat2:1 preferentially binds to a palindromic sequence similar to the consensus GAS element found in the promoter of several ISG. Our results establish that in addition to the classic complex formation involving Stat2, Stat1, and p48 associations, Stat2:1 heterodimers are formed in response to IFN treatment that may play an important role in the transcriptional regulation of certain ISG.