Identification of a functional DNA binding site for the SREBP-1c transcription factor in the first intron of the human caspase-2 gene.

Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Proteins (SREBP) are transcription factors that regulate lipid synthesis. We have shown recently that the human CASP-2 gene, encoding procaspase-2, was under the positive control of SREBP-2 that transactivates several responsive elements in the promoter region. We describe here the function of an additional SREBP-responsive element located in the first intron. Remarkably, this site is uniquely responsive to SREBP-1c that is mainly involved in fatty acids synthesis. This observation, together with our recent findings, strengthens the notion that the CASP-2 gene belongs to the SREBP-responsive gene battery in human cells.