Purification of a protein doublet that binds to six TGG-containing sequences in the promoter for hamster 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase.

The gene for 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, the rate-controlling enzyme of cholesterol biosynthesis, is transcribed at a relatively high level when cellular sterols are depleted and is repressed when sterols accumulate. We have previously reported that the regulatory region of the hamster reductase gene contains eight different sequences that bind nuclear proteins as determined by DNase I footprinting assays. We here report the purification of a single activity that accounts for six of these footprints. This activity was found in a doublet of proteins (designated reductase promoter factor 1, RPF-1) that have apparent molecular weights of 33,000 and 35,000. They were isolated by DNA affinity chromatography using oligonucleotides corresponding to either of two footprinted sequences. The 33- and 35-kDa species were present as monomers, as indicated by gel filtration and gradient ultracentrifugation. Oligonucleotides corresponding to any one of the six footprinted sequences prevented the binding of RPF-1 to all of the other sequences, indicating that all six bind to a single site in RPF-1. The only sequence shared by all six footprinted sequences is the trinucleotide, TGG, both of whose guanosines made contact with RPF-1, as determined by methylation interference assays. The footprinted sequence that binds RPF-1 with highest affinity contains the palindrome, TGG(N7)CCA, which conforms to the consensus sequence for binding NF-1, a nuclear protein that stimulates replication of adeno-virus-2. Purified RPF-1 was shown to bind to the adenovirus NF-1 binding site with high affinity. Although the apparent molecular weight of the RPF-1 doublet was lower than the molecular weight range for NF-1 proteins (52,000-66,000), it is likely that the 33-35-kDa doublet is derived from a larger NF-1-like protein as a result of proteolysis. We conclude that RPF-1 belongs to a group of TGG-binding proteins that includes NF-1 and other proteins previously described as CCAAT binding proteins. This protein binds to six sites in the promoter region for hamster 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase, where its function remains to be determined.