Ets-1 is the prototype member of a family of genes identified on the basis of homology to the v-Ets oncogene isolated from the E26 erythroblastosis virus. This family of genes currently includes Ets-1, Ets-2, Erg-1-3, Elk-1, Elf-1, Elf-5, NERF, PU.1, PEA3, ERM, FEV, ER8l, Fli-1, TEL, Spi-B, ESE-1, ESE-3A, Net, ABT1 and ERF. Members of the Ets gene family exhibit varied patterns of tissue expression, and share a highly conserved carboxy-terminal domain containing a sequence related to the SV40 large T antigen nuclear localization signal sequence. This conserved domain is essential for Ets-1 binding to DNA and is likely to be responsible for the DNA-binding activity of all members of the Ets gene family. Elf-1 is a lymphoid-specific member of the Ets family that has been shown to regulate inducible gene expression during T cell activation. Elf-1 contains a sequence motif that is highly related to the Rb-binding sites common to several viral oncoproteins and binds to the pocket region of Rb both in vivo and in vitro.