Characterization of in Vivo DNA-Protein Interactions in the Transcriptional Regulation of Human Heat Shock Genes

Heat shock genes have provided powerful tools for the investigation of the process of transcription. The human hsp70 gene is transcriptionally regulated during the cell cycle, in response to serum stimulation, following infection by DNA tumor viruses, during specific stages of development and differentiation, and in response to heat shock and other forms of physiological stress. As a complement to traditional forms of cis-element and trans-factor analysis, we have employed in vivo genomic footprint analysis to identify sites of constitutive factor interaction and the activation and binding of heat shock factor(s). Through the combination of these methodologies, we have been able to examine specific details of factor occupancy and release and to propose models for heat shock gene regulation.