Cooperative Interaction Between Ets and AP-1 Transcription Factors Regulates Induction of Glutathione S-Transferase Ya Gene Expression

Induction of mouse glutathione S-transferase (GST) Ya gene expression by a variety of chemical agents is mediated by a regulatory element, EpRE, composed of an Ets and two adjacent AP-1-like binding sites. In this report we present evidence that the basal and inducible activity of EpRE is mediated by AP-1 transcription factor and that the cooperative interaction between AP-1 and an Ets protein contributes to enhance the EpRE inducibility. We also show that EpRE, similar to a single AP-1 site, when ligated to GST Ya gene promoter, is transactivated by c-Fos/c-Jun or c-Fos/Jun-B heterodimer and that c-Jun/c-Jun homodimer is an activator of an AP-1 site only in the context of collagenase gene promoter.