Identification of jun-B as third member in human antioxidant response element-nuclear proteins complex

Deletion mutagenesis in human NAD(P)H:Quinone Oxidoreductase (NQO1) gene and transfection studies into mammalian cells identified a segment of DNA designated as human Antioxidant Response Element (hARE) responsible for high basal expression in tumor cells and its induction by beta-naphthoflavone (beta-NF). The twenty four base pairs of the hARE contains an essential cis-element AP1 binding site and has been shown to bind to jun-D and c-fos proteins from mouse hepatoma (Hepa-1) nuclear extract. In the present report, we have identified jun-B as the third major protein in the hARE-Hepa-1 proteins complex observed in the band shift assays.