Two independent pathways for transcription from the MMTV promoter

The influence of progesterone receptor (PR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) on transcription from the mouse mammary tumour virus (MMTV) promoter was analyzed using cell-free transcription of DNA templates with a G-free cassette. Preincubation of the templates with either PR or GR stimulates the rate of transcription initiation 10-50 fold, whereas the recombinant DNA binding domain of GR is inactive. Mutations that inactivate the nuclear factor I (NFI) binding site, or NFI depletion of the nuclear extract, decrease basal transcription without influencing receptor-dependent induction. Recombinant NFI, but not its DNA-binding domain, restores efficient basal transcription of the depleted extract. Recombinant OTF1 or OTF2, but not the POU domain of OTF1, enhance MMTV transcription independently of NF1. In agreement with this finding, NFI and OTF1 do not cooperate, but rather compete for binding to the wild type MMTV promoter, though they have the potential to bind simultaneously to properly oriented sites. Our results imply the existence of two independent pathways for MMTV transcription: one initiated by NFI and the other dependent on octamer transcription factors. Only the second pathway is stimulated by steroid hormone receptors in vitro.