Fig. 2: ERK2-mediated transcriptional activation requires ELK1 binding to the EGR1 promoter.

a ELK1 consensus sequence (left), a potential ELK1 binding site in the EGR1 promoter, boxed in red (middle), and the mutation introduced to generate the ELK1^mut template in this study (right). b Immobilized template assay results showing decreased levels of ELK1, TOP2B, and CDK9 proteins on the ELK1^mut template. INPUT, 25% of HeLa NE used for a reaction; DNA, the WT and ELK1^mut immobilized template used for the assays. c Statistical representation of immobilized template assay results (n = 3 independent experiments). Data are presented as mean values and SD. P values for the bar graphs were calculated with the unpaired, one sided Student’s t test. d Immobilized template assay results showing the effects of WT and mutant ERKs on MED23 and Pol II recruitment to the WT and ELK1^mut template (n = 2 independent experiments). e in vitro transcription assay results showing EGR1 gene suppression on the ELK1^mut template (n = 3 independent experiments). Data are presented as mean values and SD. P values for the bar graphs were calculated with the unpaired, one sided Student’s t test. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.