Identification of a novel AUrich-element-binding protein which is related to AUF 1

The AU-rich element (ARE) is an important instability determinant for a large number of early-response-gene mRNAs. AREs also mediate the stabilization of certain pro-inflammatory mRNAs, such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), in response to inflammatory stimuli. To understand how AREs control mRNA stability, it is necessary to identify trans-acting factors. We have purified a new AREbinding protein and identified it as CArG box-binding factor-A (CBF-A). The amino acid sequence of CBF-A is highly similar to that of the ARE-binding protein AUF1. Recombinant CBF-A bound the COX-2 and TNF-α AREs, but not a non-specific control RNA. In contrast, in an electrophoretic-mobility-shift assay (EMSA)of crudeRAW264.7macrophage-like cell extracts, an antiserum that recognizes both AUF1 and CBF-A failed to supershift complexes formed on the TNF-α ARE, but did supershift a complex specific for the COX-2 ARE. CBF-A exists