We have shown previously that an increase in the level of accumulated pS2 mRNA is first detectable in MCF-7 cells after 3 hr of estradiol treatment. Using in vitro nuclear run-on transcription with nuclei prepared from MCF-7 cells grown in the presence of estradiol or in estradiol-stripped medium, we demonstrate here that expression of the pS2 gene is controlled by estrogen at the transcriptional level. Induction of transcription is a very early event that is already apparent within 15 min after addition of estradiol to the culture medium. In addition, pretreatment of the cells with the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide does not prevent induction of pS2 gene transcription, indicating that it corresponds to a primary effect of estrogen. The pS2 gene in MCF-7 cells represents a unique example of a human gene whose transcription is directly controlled by estrogen.