SFA-2, A NOVEL BZIP TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR-INDUCED BY HUMAN T-CELL LEUKEMIA-VIRUS TYPE-I, IS HIGHLY EXPRESSED IN MATURE LYMPHOCYTES

A novel cellular gene, SFA-2, was isolated by differential hybridizati on of a cDNA library, using probes obtained from an adult T-cell leuke mia cell line in comparison with normal CD4(+) T cells and MOLT-4 cell line. The mRNA of the SFA-2 gene is approximately 0.9-kb in size and encodes a protein of 125 amino acids, containing a basic region-leucin e zipper DNA-binding domain. The N-terminal region of SFA-2 is rich in serine and contains a consensus sequence for casein kinase II phospho rylation. The SFA-2 gene was strongly expressed in mature T and B lymp hocytes, and was up-regulated after transformation by human T-cell leu kemia virus type I. The SFA-2 did not homodimerize efficiently but for med heterodimer preferentially with c-Jun. The SFA-2/c-Jun heterodimer bound preferentially to the AP-1 and CRE sites. (C) 1996 Academic Pre ss, Inc.