Cux/CDP Homeoprotein Is a Component of NF-μNR and Represses the Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain Intronic Enhancer by Antagonizing the Bright Transcription Activator

Nuclear matrix attachment regions (MARs) flanking the immunoglobulin heavy chain intronic enhancer (Eμ) are the targets of the negative regulator, NF-μNR, found in non-B and early pre-B cells. Expression library screening with NF-μNR binding sites yielded a cDNA clone encoding an alternatively spliced form of the Cux/CDP homeodomain protein. Cux/CDP fulfills criteria required for NF-μNR identity. It is expressed in non-B and early pre-B cells but not mature B cells. It binds to NF-μNR binding sites within Eμ with appropriate differential affinities. Antiserum specific for Cux/CDP recognizes a polypeptide of the predicted size in affinity-purified NF-μNR preparations and binds NF-μNR complexed with DNA. Cotransfection with Cux/CDP represses the activity of Eμ via the MAR sequences in both B and non-B cells. Cux/CDP antagonizes the effects of the Bright transcription activator at both the DNA binding and functional levels. We propose that Cux/CDP regulates cell-type-restricted, differentiation stage-specific Eμ enhancer activity by interfering with the function of nuclear matrix-bound transcription activators.