The hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) was first described as a DNA bi
nding activity that specifically recognizes an 8 bp hypoxia response e
lement (HRE) known to be essential for oxygen-regulated erythropoietin
gene expression. In electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) HIF
-1 DNA binding activity is only detectable in nuclear extracts of cell
s cultivated in a low oxygen atmosphere. In addition to HIF-1, a const
itutive DNA binding activity also specifically binds the HIF-1 probe.
Based on EMSAs using competitor oligonucleotides, specific antibodies
and recombinant proteins, we previously reported that the constitutive
HRE binding factor is composed of ATF-1 and CREB-1. Here we show that
this site is functionally responsive to the cAMP agonist 8Br-cAMP in
a dose-dependent manner under hypoxic but not under normoxic condition
s. These results were confirmed by using the protein kinase A (PKA) ac
tivator Sp-cAMPS and the PKA inhibitor Rp-cAMPS: while Sp-cAMPS was sy
nergistic with hypoxia on the HIF-1 DNA recognition site, the Rp-cAMPS
isomer showed no effect. Our findings suggest that the PKA-signaling
pathway is enhancing oxygen-dependent gene expression via the HRE.