Sequence elements required for activity of a murine major histocompatibility complex class II promoter bind common and cell-type-specific nuclear factors.

We have examined the sequence elements and corresponding DNA-binding factors required for transient expression of the A alpha d promoter fused to the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene in a variety of cultured cell lines. Deletion analysis demonstrated that only about 110 nucleotides of sequence 5' of the transcription start site are required for constitutive expression in the murine B-lymphoma cell line A20 or for gamma interferon-induced expression in the murine monocytic cell line WEHI-3. Linker-scanner mutation of this region indicated that at least three sequence elements are required for promoter activity. These elements correspond to the conserved sequence elements found in other human and mouse class II genes, the X box, the Y box, and the H box. Analysis of DNA-binding activity showed that the three most predominant factors present in extracts from WEHI-3, A20, or L cells (which do not express the class II genes) are actually a family of factors that bind to a fourth sequence element, overlapping the 3' end of the X-box sequence, that is homologous to the cyclic AMP-responsive enhancer element. A single common factor that binds to the Y box was detected in extracts from all cells tested, as has been seen with the Y-box elements of other class II genes. Another common factor was found that binds to the more conserved 5' region of the X-box element, although A20 extracts contained a second, distinct binding activity for this region. A common binding factor for the H-box element was detected in extracts from WEHI-3 and L cells. However, this activity was absent in A20 cell extracts. Instead, two different H-box-binding activities were detected, suggesting that different components are involved in class II gene expression in B cells and macrophages. Finally, gamma interferon treatment did not significantly alter the DNA-binding activity in WEHI-3 cells for any of the sequence elements shown to be required for induced chloramphenicol acetyltransferase expression.