Myc-mediated transactivation of HSP70 expression following exposure to magnetic fields

We investigated c-myc protein-binding sites on the HSP70 promoter as modulators of the induction of HSP70 gene expression in response to magnetic field stimulation (8microT at 60Hz) and whether the presence of c-myc protein potentiates transactivation of HSP70 expression. A 320 base pair region in the HSP70 promoter (+1 to -320) was analyzed. This region contains two c-myc-protein binding sites with consensus sequences located at -230 and -160 nucleotide positions (relative to the transcription initiation site) and overlapping with the region reported for the regulation of HSP70 gene expression by c-myc protein. This promoter region is upstream of other regulatory sequences, including the heat shock element (HSE), AP-2, and serum response element (SRE). Transfectants containing both c-myc protein-binding sites, HSP-MYC A and HSP-MYC B, and exposed to magnetic fields showed a 3.0-fold increase in expression of CAT activity as compared with sham-exposed control transfectants. Transfectants containing one c-myc binding site, HSP-MYC A, and exposed to magnetic fields showed a 2.3-fold increase in CAT expression. Transfectants in which both HSP-MYC A and HSP-MYC B binding sites were deleted showed no magnetic field sensitivity; values were virtually identical with sham-exposed controls. If the c-myc expression vector was not co-transfected with the constructs containing myc-binding sites, there was no difference in the expression of CAT activity between magnetically stimulated and sham-exposed controls, although both responded to heat shock. These data suggest that endogenous elevated levels of myc protein contribute to the induction of HSP70 in response to magnetic field stimulation.