Distinguishable promoter elements are involved in transcriptional activation by E1a and cyclic AMP.

The sequence motif CGTCA is critical for binding of a group of cellular transcription factors (ATF, CREB, E4F, and EivF) and for activation of certain E1a-inducible and cyclic AMP (cAMP)-inducible promoters. We have tested different promoter elements containing the CGTCA motif (referred to here as ATF-binding sites) for the ability to function as E1a or cAMP response elements. The adenovirus E4 promoter and the cellular vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) promoter responded differently to E1a and cAMP, demonstrating that the activating potential of ATF-binding sites within these promoters is not equivalent. While particular ATF-binding sites were sufficient for the activity of both the E4 (E1a inducibility) and VIP (cAMP inducibility) enhancers, these two enhancers had contrasting effects on E1a- and cAMP-inducible transcription. Thus, the relationship between E1a- and cAMP-inducible transcription is not simply explained by the action of these two inducers through the same promoter elements.