A new cis element is involved in the HER2 gene overexpression in human breast cancer cells

Cancer Res. 1999 Jun 1;59(11):2527-31.

Abstract

The HER2 proto-oncogene product is overexpressed in 30% of breast cancers, and this correlates with poor prognosis. Increased levels of HER2 mRNA in breast cancer cell lines result from increased gene transcription. We report the identification of a new 17-bp-long cis sequence located between positions -506 and -489 from the transcription start site. This sequence is recognized by a trans-activating factor that we tentatively named HER2 transcription factor (HTF). This factor, involved in the increased transcription of the HER2 gene in the BT-474 mammary tumor cells, has a molecular weight of about Mr 50,000. HTF can also bind, but with a lower affinity, to a related cis sequence present in the epidermal growth factor receptor promoter. Interestingly, the HTF binding activity is high in nuclear extracts from several mammary tumor cells overexpressing the HER2 gene.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Binding, Competitive
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Electrophoresis
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Female
  • Genes, erbB-2
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Molecular Weight
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
  • Oligonucleotides / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Mas
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / genetics*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism
  • Trans-Activators / genetics*
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism
  • Transcription Factor AP-2
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcriptional Activation*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • MAS1 protein, human
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Oligonucleotides
  • Proto-Oncogene Mas
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factor AP-2
  • Transcription Factors
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Receptor, ErbB-2