The cyclin B2 promoter depends on NF-Y, a trimer whose CCAAT-binding activity is cell-cycle regulated

Cyclin B2 is a regulator of p34cdc2 kinase, involved in G2/M progression of the cell cycle, whose gene is strictly regulated at the transcriptional le vel in cycling cells, The mouse promoter was cloned and three conserved CCA AT boxes were found. In this study, we analysed the mechanisms leading to a ctivation of the cyclin B2 CCAAT boxes: a combination of (i) genomic footpr inting, (ii) transfections with single, double and triple mutants, (iii) EM SAs with nuclear extracts, antibodies and NF-Y recombinant proteins and (iv ) transfections with an NF-YA dominant negative mutant established the posi tive role of the three CCAAT sequences and proved that NF-Y plays a crucial role in their activation. NF-Y, an ubiquitous trimer containing histone fo ld subunits, activates several other promoters regulated during the cell cy cle. To analyse the levels of NF-Y subunits in the different phases of the cycle, we separated MEL cells by elutriation, obtaining fractions >80% pure . The mRNA and protein levels of the histone-fold containing IVF-YB and NF- YC were invariant, whereas the NF-YA protein, but not its mRNA, was maximal in mid-S and decreased in G2/M. EMSA confirmed that the CCAAT-binding acti vity followed the amount of NF-YA, indicating that this subunit is limiting within the NF-Y complex, and suggesting that post-transcriptional mechanis ms regulate NF-YA levels. Our results support a model whereby fine tuning o f this activator is important for phase-specific transcription of CCAAT-con taining promoters.