The inositol/choline-responsive element (ICRE) is an 11 bp cis-activating sequence motif with central importance for the regulated expression of phospholipid biosynthetic genes in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The ICRE containing the CANNTG core binding sequence (E-box) of basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) regulatory proteins is recognized by the heteromeric bHLH transcription factor Ino2p/Ino4p. In this study, we define the Ino2p/Ino4p consensus binding sequence (5′-WYTTCAYR-TGS-3′) based on the characterization of all possible single nucleotide substitutions. Interestingly, this analysis also identified a single functional deviation (CACATTC) from the CANNTG core recognition element of bHLH proteins. The DNA binding specificities of different yeast bHLH proteins may now be explained by distinct nucleotide preferences especially at two positions immediately preceding the CANNTG core motif.
