An N-formamido pyrrole- and imidazole-containing triamide (f-PIP) has been shown by DNase I footprinting, SPR, and CD studies to bind as a stacked dimer to its cognate sequences: 5'-TACGAT-3' (5'-flank of the inverted CCAAT box-2 of the human topoisomerase IIalpha promoter) and 5'-ATCGAT-3'. A gel shift experiment provided evidence for f-PIP to inhibit protein-DNA interaction at the ICB2 site. Western blot studies showed that expression of the topoisomerase IIalpha gene in confluent NIH 3T3 cells was induced by treatment with f-PIP. The results suggested that the triamide was able to enter the nucleus, interacted with the target site within ICB2, inhibited NF-Y binding, and activated gene expression.