The cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases, which represent an extended superfamily, catalyze the biotransformation of many endogenous and exogenous substances. One of these hemoproteins, cytochrome P4501A1, is most closely associated with the bioactivation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzo[a]pyrene, which may play a role in environmental carcinogenesis. A negative regulatory element (NRE) has been localized in the 5'-upstream region of the cytochrome P4501A1 gene (CYP1A1) at -843 to -746 base pairs from the site of transcription. The purpose of this research was to define any interactions of trans-acting proteins with this cis element. Rat liver nuclei were used as the source of trans-acting proteins and a biotinylated NRE-bearing fragment (-782 to -843 bp) from a plasmid which contained the CYP1A1 was prepared by the polymerase chain reaction technique. Gel mobility shift assays were used to demonstrate interactions between this NRE fragment and nuclear proteins. The specific binding to an octamer-containing motif in the 5'-upstream region of CYP1A1 was demonstrated; this was used as a step in the partial purification from rat liver of the transcription factor, Oct-1. Conventional chromatographic procedures and DNA recognition site affinity chromatography were also used. HepG2 human hepatoma cells were transfected with both pMCoLUC+ which contains the luciferase gene as a reporter gene driven by the CYP1A1 promoter (including the NRE), and an Oct-1 expression vector. Luciferase activity/mg protein in the doubly-transfected cells was significantly lower than in cells containing only pMCoLUC+. A nuclear transcription factor Oct-1 interacts with a portion of the NRE of the rat CYP1A1, suppressing the expression of this gene. These findings may help to explain the low level of basal expression of CYP1A1 in mammalian systems.