Transcriptional induction of the p69 isoform of 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase by interferon-beta and interferon-gamma involves three regulatory elements and interferon-stimulated gene factor 3.

The 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetases are key enzymes that mediate antiviral actions of interferon (IFN). The mRNAs for the intermediate isoforms (p69) of human 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase are rapidly induced 10- to 20-fold in HT1080 glioma cells by IFN-beta and induced 3-fold at 24 h by IFN-gamma. Induction is mediated by three regulatory elements, an IFN-stimulated response element and two identical sites resembling interferon response factor binding sites that are located within 300 bp of the transcriptional start site. Maximal induction requires all three elements, yet mutation in the most distal IRF-1-like site diminishes transcription only slightly. Mutation in the ISRE substantially decreases constitutive expression but does not abrogate the response to IFNs. Simultaneous mutation in all three elements abolishes responsiveness to both IFN-beta and IFN-gamma. Both constitutive and IFN-beta-induced expression from the p69 promoter is blocked in mutant cell lines deficient in components of the transcription factor, interferon-stimulated gene factor 3, suggesting that it is the primary factor controlling IFN-beta induced expression of this gene. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.