CDF-1, a novel E2F-unrelated factor, interacts with cell cycle-regulated repressor elements in multiple promoters.

The cdc25C , cdc2 and cyclin A promoters are controlled by transcriptional repression through two contiguous protein binding sites, termed the CDE and CHR. In the present study we have identified a factor, CDF-1, which interacts with the cdc25C CDE-CHR module. CDF-1 binds to the CDE in the major groove and to the CHR in the minor grove in a cooperative fashion in vitro , in a manner similar to that seen by genomic footprinting. In agreement with in vivo binding data and its putative function as a periodic repressor, DNA binding by CDF-1 in nuclear extracts is down-regulated during cell cycle progression. CDF-1 also binds avidly to the CDE-CHR modules of the cdc2 and cyclin A promoters, but not to the E2F site in the B- myb promoter. Conversely, E2F complexes do not recognize the cdc25C CDE-CHR and CDF-1 is immunologically unrelated to all known E2F and DP family members. This indicates that E2F- and CDF-mediated repression is controlled by different factors acting at different stages during the cell cycle. While E2F-mediated repression seems to be associated with genes that are up-regulated early (around mid G1), such as B- myb , CDE-CHR-controlled genes, such as cdc25C , cdc2 and cyclin A , become derepressed later. Finally, the fractionation of native nuclear extracts on glycerol gradients leads to separation of CDF-1 from both E2F complexes and pocket proteins of the pRb family. This emphasizes the conclusion that CDF-1 is not an E2F family member and points to profound differences in the cell cycle regulation of CDF-1 and E2F.