Regulation of mouse UBF gene by multiple growth-related control elements.

Transcription of the mouse Upstream Binding Factor (mUBF) gene, that encodes one of the essential transcription factors for ribosomal DNA transcription, starts from several nucleotides. Neither typical TATA-box nor CCAAT-box is found upstream of the transcription initiation site. In the promoter region, there are eight GC-boxes, eight AP-2 binding consensus sequences, four cAMP response elements, and several serum response element equivalent sequences. These elements appear to play a positive role for the regulation of the mUBF gene as a whole. Among serum response elements, members located between -1182 and -343 are indeed responsive to serum, suggesting their important role in the high expression of mUBF under cell growth conditions.