Interaction of a common factor with conserved promoter and enhancer sequences in histone H2B, immunoglobulin, and U2 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) genes.

We have examined the interaction of factors in HeLa cell nuclear extracts with a human histone H2B gene (H2B) promoter. Protein-DNA mobility-shift and DNase I protection assays detected a factor(s) binding to a 15-base-pair consensus element that is essential for efficient H2B transcription in vitro. Part of this consensus sequence is the octanucleotide ATTTGCAT, which is apparently a functional component of several non-histone genes. A subset of these genes, including a human U2 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) gene promoter, a mouse immunoglobulin heavy chain enhancer, and a mouse light chain promoter, were shown to interact with the H2B consensus sequence-binding factor(s). These results suggest that a common factor or closely related factors may contribute to the regulation of these and other genes that share the octanucleotide sequence.