EGF-induced jun B-expression in transfected P19 embryonal carcinoma cells expressing EGF-receptors is dependent on Jun D

The TPA-inducible transcription factor AP-1, consisting of homo- or hetero-dimers of members of the Jun- and Fos-families, regulates transcription of a wide variety of genes containing the TPA response element (TRE). In P19 embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells, Jun D is the only component of AP-1 expressed, while in these cells until now none of the members of the jun- and fos-families have been found to be inducable by external stimuli. Here we demonstrate that Jun B is the only member of the Jun- and Fos-families that is induced by Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) in transfected murine P19 EC cells, expressing functional human EGF receptors (hEGF-Rs). Induction of jun B can be mimicked in wild type P19 EC cells by the synergistic action of the phorbol ester TPA and the calcium ionophore A23187, through activation of signal transduction pathways, that are activated simultaneously by EGF. The EGF induced jun B expression in the hEGF-R expressing P19 EC cells is mediated by an inverted repeat (IR) sequence in the jun B promoter, previously shown to be responsive to both PKC and PKA signal transduction. Transactivation of the IR sequence by EGF can be blocked completely by prior expression of antisense Jun D, but not by antisense c-Jun. These studies therefore implicate Jun D in the regulation of immediate early gene expression by external stimuli.