Requirement of an ETS-binding element for transcription of the human lck type I promoter

The requirement for cis-acting DNA sequences for transcriptional activity of the human lck type I promoter was investigated in two human cell lines that express type I transcripts, the leukemic T-cell line, Jurkat, and the colon carcinoma line, SW620. Transient transfection assays in Jurkat and SW620 cells revealed negative and positive cis-acting regulatory elements in the lck type I promoter between -570 and -480 and between -128 and -63 respectively. For the latter, a triple point mutation of a sequence, GCAGGAAGT, from -99 and -91 resulted in complete loss of lck type I promoter activity in both Jurkat and SW620 cells. In vitro binding assays indicated that this sequence, denoted the ETS-binding element or EBE, can interact with the lymphoid-specific transcription factor ETS-1. Thus, a protein(s) in the ETS family appears to be required for transcription of the lck type I promoter in T cells and may be important for the activation of the lck gene in human colon carcinoma.