Glucocorticoid receptor binding to defined regions of alpha 2u-globulin genes

A DNA-cellulose competition assay was used to study binding of glucocorticoid receptor complexes to two alpha 2u-globulin genes, RAP 01 and RAO 01. Two binding regions were found in RAP 01, one localized between bp -642 and -452, the other between -252 and -118 from the transcriptional initiation site. Only the second region was found in RAO 01. The binding affinity was comparable to that observed using a long terminal repeat fragment of mouse mammary tumor virus. Both regions contain sequences homologous to a 17-bp consensus proposed for the glucocorticoid receptor binding. Therefore, despite evidence that glucocorticoid induction of alpha 2u-globulin may be indirect, a direct action of the receptor in the 5'-upstream region of the genes cannot be excluded.