Differential effects of c-jun and CREB on c-AMP response element activation by Ha-ras

We have previously shown that a Long Terminal Repeat (LTR) of the Intracisternal A-type Particle (IAP) element was activated by ras oncogenes. Here we show that, like the somatostatin CRE (som CRE) and the collagenase TPA Response Element (coll TRE), the IAP CRE is activated by c-jun and that Val 12 Ha-ras cooperates with c-jun to activate these motifs. Neither jun-B nor jun-D activated the IAP CRE, although they were able to act on the som CRE and the coll TRE and to synergize with ras. The CREB factor activated both CREs and modestly inhibited the coll TRE, but diminished the effect of ras on the coll TRE. Finally, forskolin was shown to cooperate with Ha-ras to activate the CRE and the coll TRE. Taken together, these results show that CREB is not involved in ras activation of the CRE and suggest that c-jun is at least one of the elements implicated in this phenomenon.