The cytochrome P-4501A1 (CYP1A1) gene is regulated by several trans-acting factors including the 4 S polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-binding protein, which has recently been identified as glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT) (Raha, A., Wagner, C., Macdonald, R. G., and Bresnick, E. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 5750-5756). The role of GNMT as a 4 S PAH-binding protein in mediating the induction of cytochrome P-4501A1 has been investigated further. GNMT cDNA, which was cloned into a pMAMneo vector containing the Rous sarcoma virus promoter and the neomycin resistance gene, was stably transfected into D422 Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Several positive clones were selected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and assayed for the expression of recombinant protein. Western blot analysis indicated the expression of significant levels of the 4 S protein in the stably transfected CHO cells (CHO-GNMT). Cytosolic preparations from the CHO-GNMT showed high benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) binding but no 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) binding activity when compared with clones transfected with the pMAMneo vector alone (CHO-neo) or the parental CHO cells. Challanging the CHO-GNMT cells with 4 microM B[a]P resulted in elevated levels of CYP1A1 mRNA. Equally effective in inducing CYP1A1 mRNA were benzo[e]pyrene and 3-methylcholanthrene. On the other hand, TCDD did not induce CYP1A1 gene expression in these cells. B[a]P-treated CHO-GNMT, expressing the 4 S protein, also showed CYP1A1 protein by Western blotting and exhibited ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity; neither the CHO-neo or parental CHO cells were positive for any of these measures. No Ah receptor message or protein was detectable in the parental CHO, CHO-neo, or CHO-GNMT cells. Furthermore, no XRE binding activity was observed in TCDD-treated cytosolic preparations or nuclear extracts from CHO-GNMT cells that were treated with TCDD. These studies unequivocally establish that GNMT is a PAH-binding protein that can mediate the induction of CYP1A1 by PAHs such as B[a]P through an Ah receptor-independent pathway.