Genetic elements regulating HES-1 induction in Wnt-1-transformed PC12 cells.

PC12 cells differentiate in response to nerve growth factor from a chromaffin cell to a sympathetic neuronal phenotype. Wnt-1 is a secreted signaling factor required for development of mammalian midbrain and cerebellum. PC12 cells transformed by Wnt-1 fail to express several differentiation-specific genes in response to nerve growth factor. We have previously shown that HES-1, a negative regulator of neuronal differentiation, is increased in Wnt-1/PC12 cells (P. S. Issack and E. B. Ziff. Altered expression of helix-loop-helix transcriptional regulators and cyclin D1 in Wnt-1-transformed PC12 cells. Cell Growth & Differ., 9: 837-845). Here, we show that the HES-1 promoter is more active in Wnt-1/PC12 cells relative to PC12 and that the binding sites for the transcription factor RBP-J kappa contribute to this induction. We also identify two additional promoter elements required for elevated HES-1 expression. One element binds Wnt-1-induced protein complexes in a sequence-specific manner. Identification of Wnt-1 responsive elements in potential target genes may provide clues to nuclear pathways regulated by Wnt-1.