A transcription-dependent micrococcal nuclease-resistant fragment of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator promoter interacts with the enhancer

We show the interaction between the enhancer and the minimal promoter of urokinase-type plasminogen activator gene during active transcription by coupling micrococcal nuclease digestion of cross-linked, sonicated chromatin, and chromatin immunoprecipitation. This approach allowed the precise identification of the interacting genomic fragments, one of which is resistant to micrococcal nuclease cleavage. The interacting fragments form a single transcriptional control unit, as indicated by their common protein content. Furthermore, we show that the enhancer-MP interaction persists during the early stages of transcription and is lost upon alpha-amanitin treatment, indicating the requirement for active transcription. Our results support a looping model of interaction between the enhancer and the MP of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator gene.