Nuclear factor YY1 activates the mammalian F0F1 ATP synthase alpha-subunit gene

Analysis of the promoters of the bovine and human nuclear-encoded mitochondrial F0F1 ATP synthase alpha-subunit genes (ATPA) has identified several positive cis-acting regulatory regions that are important for basal promoter activity in human HeLa cells. We have previously determined that the binding of a protein factor, termed ATPF1, to an E-box sequence (CANNTG) located within one of these cis-acting regions is critical for transcriptional activation of the ATPA gene. In this article, we describe a second positive cis-acting regulatory element of the ATPA gene that is important for expression of the ATPA gene. We show that this cis-acting element also contains a binding site for a protein present in HeLa cells. On the basis of electrophoretic mobility shift patterns, oligonucleotide competition assays, and immunological cross-reactivity, we conclude that this protein factor is Yin-Yang 1 (YY1). Experiments carried out to examine the functional role of YY1 within the context of the ATPA promoter demonstrated that YY1 acts as a positive regulator of the ATPA gene. For example, when the YY1 binding site of the ATPA promoter was placed upstream of a reporter gene it was found to activate transcription in transient transfection assays. In addition, disruption of the YY1 binding site in the ATPA gene resulted in a loss of transcriptional activity. Furthermore, in cotransfection experiments overexpression of YY1 in trans was found to activate transcription of ATPA promoter-CAT constructs. Thus, at least two positive trans-acting regulatory factors, ATPF1 and YY1, are important for expression of the bovine and human F0F1 ATP synthase alpha-subunit genes.