kappa B elements strongly activate gene expression in non-lymphoid cells and function synergistically with NF1 elements

Abstract

kappa B elements have been described as lymphoid-specific transcriptional activators. Here we show that kappa B elements are able to stimulate expression from test promoters more than 100-fold in T47D and 3T3 non-lymphoid cells. We also demonstrate that nuclear proteins from T47D cells form two prominent complexes with HIV kappa B sites. Since the complexes formed in nuclear extracts from T47D and PHA/PMA stimulated Jurkat cells comigrate in polyacrylamide gels, we suggest that the respective binding protein in T47D cells is either NF-kappa B or a closely related family member. In addition we provide evidence that NF1 and kappa B elements can act synergistically to further increase transcriptional activity.