Transcription factors binding to the cis-elements of GADD45 gene in ML-1 cells after low-dose irradiation

Several stress-responsive genes, including p53-target genes, are induced by low-dose of ionizing radiation ranging from 0.02 to 0.5 Gy. We show here that 0.5 Gy of X-rays increase the transcription rate of the GADD45 gene, with maximum induction at 0.5 to 1 h after irradiation, much earlier than the maximum accumulation of stabilized p53 protein. It could be suggested that some transcription factors cooperate with p53 in regulating the GADD45 gene at an early time after low-dose irradiation. This idea is supported by the studies that showed GKLF and Spl are required for p53-dependent transcriptional activation of the p21WAFI/Cipl and BAX genes, respectively. To examine the possible involvement of cooperating transcription factors in regulation of the GADD45 gene after low-dose radiation, we attempted a comprehensive EMSA, in which 136 species of double-stranded DNA probes were used to identify X-ray-inducible factor-bindings to the upstream and the third intron regions of the gene after exposure to 0.5 Gy of X-rays in human myeloblastic leukemia ML-1 cells. Several X-ray-inducible DNA-protein complexes were observed. The factors related to forkhead transcription factors, POU domain transcription factors and kruppel-like factors were putatively identified by the competition assay. It is possible that these factors cooperate with p53 to mediate the transcriptional regulation of the GADD45 genes after low-dose irradiation. (author)