Transcription regulatory complex including YB-1 controls expression of mouse matrix metalloproteinase-2 gene in NIH3T3 cells

Matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) is a metalloproteinase belonging to a family of structurally related zinc-dependent endopeptidases capable of degrading extracellular matrix components. To elucidate the functional promoter of the mouse MMP-2 gene, systematic transient expression analysis of the 5'-flanking region of the MMP-2 gene was performed using serially nested deletions. The deletion analysis indicated that the proximal 327-bp sequence from nucleotide positions -313 to +14 relative to the transcription start site is essential for minimal promoter activity and that a 10-bp sequence of the promoter at positions -939 to -930 is required for high expression level of the MMP-2 gene. The 10-bp fragment functioned as a potent stimulator of heterologous SV40 promoter activity. This element is identical to the YB-1 binding motif (V-box) present within the responsive element-1 (RE-1), which has been shown to act as a potent cis-activator of transcription of the rat MMP-2 gene. The binding of a nuclear factor(s) to the 10-bp fragment was also revealed by electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs). Antibody-supershift EMSAs of nuclear extracts from NIH 3T3 cells demonstrated YB-1 binding to the RE-1 sequence. It was concluded that the RE-1 is the conserved element for potent expression of MMP-2 gene among rodents.