Distinct factors with Sp1 and NF-A specificities bind to adjacent functional elements of the human U2 snRNA gene enhancer.

The enhancer regions of mammalian and avian U1 and U2 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) genes are unusual in containing the sequence GGGCGG (GC-box) immediately upstream from the sequence ATGCAAAT (octamer). We made point mutations in the human U2 snRNA enhancer and tested them for the ability to direct U2 transcription in HeLa cells, as well as for the ability to form complexes with factors present in HeLa cell nuclear extracts. We show that neither the GC-box nor the octamer alone is sufficient for enhancer activity in vivo. Mutations in the GC-box reduce the ability of enhancer DNA fragments to bind a factor (probably Sp1), whereas mutations in the octamer independently reduce the ability to bind a second factor (probably nuclear factor A, NF-A). The results suggest that adjacent binding of Sp1 and NF-A is an important feature of some U-snRNA gene enhancers.