The enhancer of human papillomavirus type 18 consists of two functionally redundant domains, one is partially conserved between HPV18 and HPV16, both mediate strong transcriptional enhancement. In contrast, short fragments of the enhancer mediate low transcriptional enhancement, suggesting that there is functional cooperation between HPV enhancer binding factors. Previously interactions of the enhancer with NF-1, AP1 and steroid receptors were shown by EMSA. Here we show by binding site blotting, that four novel sequence specific proteins p110, p92, p42 and p40 bind to the enhancer. Nuclear proteins p110 and p92 bind at repeated sites in the enhancer, proteins p42 and p40 only at one site. Recognition sequences for p110 and p92 were identified in a TTGCTTGCATAA sequence motif and consist of an overlapping p110 and p92 recognition site. The specific interaction of p110 with G residues of this 12 nucleotide long sequence was demonstrated by a mutant recognition site. Single recognition sites for p42 and p40 were localized in the enhancer by the use of overlapping oligonucleotides. In addition, electrophoretic mobility shift analysis identified Oct-1 and AP2 interactions with the enhancer. The AP2 binding site was mapped to a AGGCACATATT motif. The p92 protein binds to enhancer oligonucleotides, containing at least one copy of Oct-1 like recognition sequences, these oligonucleotides also bind synthetic Oct-1 protein. During serum starvation or at high saturation density, p92 moves from the nucleus into the cytoplasm. Immunoblots of cytoplasmic extracts with anti-Oct-1 antisera showed, that p92 is a novel octamer binding factor, which is not immunologically related to the Oct-1 protein. The intracellular p92 distribution is regulated at the G0/G1 boundary of the cell cycle, by nucleo-cytoplasmic translocation.