An upstream NF-Y-binding site is required for transcriptional activation from the hst promoter in F9 embryonal carcinoma cells.

Expression of hst (k-FGF, FGF-4), a member of the fibroblast growth factor gene family, is restricted to early stages of developing embryos and to embryonal carcinoma cells. In F9, which is a prototype of embryonal carcinoma cells expressing hst, the expression of hst gene is positively regulated by a downstream octamer motif that functions as an enhancer. We have investigated, by chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter fusion gene analysis in F9, the cis-acting regulatory element within the hst promoter region that interacts with this enhancer. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and methylation interference analysis showed that the hst promoter contains, in a segment termed Y, the sequence 5'-CTGATTGGCA-3', which closely resembles the consensus binding motif for the CCAAT-binding factor NF-Y. Deletions or mutations in this element substantially reduced expression of hst-CAT constructs. The nuclear factor binding to the Y segment of the hst promoter was indistinguishable from NF-Y, as inferred from interactions with specific anti-NF-Y monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. We conclude that the expression of the hst gene in F9 is positively regulated by the coordinated interaction between an NF-Y-binding site and an octamer motif.