The carboxy-terminal F domain of the human estrogen receptor: role in the transcriptional activity of the receptor and the effectiveness of antiestrogens as estrogen antagonists

Of the steroid hormone receptor family members, the estrogen receptor (ER) is notable in containing a sizable (42-amino acid) C-terminal region, denoted domain F. This F region differs from its adjacent hormone-binding domain, domain E, in that it is not well conserved among different vertebrate ER species, and its role in the biological activity of the ER is not well defined. We report an important role for the F domain of the ER in modulating the magnitude of gene transcription by estrogen and antiestrogen, and in determining the effectiveness of antiestrogens in suppressing estrogen-stimulated gene transcription. Using transient transfections, we have examined, in several cell types, the transcriptional activity of the full-length wild type human ER and ER lacking the carboxy-terminal F domain (delta F ER, containing amino acids 1-554) or ER altered in the F domain by point mutations. In some cells, namely Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells expressing wild type ER or delta F ER, estradiol (E2) stimulates equally transcription of several estrogen-responsive promoter-reporter gene constructs [estrogen ca-18119 element, (ERE)2-TATA-CAT, (ERE)2-pS2-CAT, (ERE)2-progesterone receptor(distal)-CAT]; however, the antiestrogens trans-hydroxytamoxifen and ICI 164,384, which stimulate transcription of some of these reporter constructs with the wild type ER, were unable to stimulate transcription with delta F ER. In addition, these antiestrogens were more effective antagonists of E2-stimulated transcription by delta F ER than by wild type ER. By contrast, in HeLa human cervical cancer cells and 3T3 mouse fibroblast cells, the delta F ER exposed to E2 is much less effective than wild type ER in stimulating transcription, and antiestrogens were less potent in suppressing E2-stimulated transcription by the delta F ER. These differences in response of the delta F and wild type ER to estrogen or antiestrogen do not appear to be due to a change in receptor expression level, binding affinity for ligands, or binding to estrogen response element DNA. Our data support the supposition that the conformation of the receptor-ligand complex is different with estrogen vs. antiestrogen and with wild type vs. delta F ER, such that its potential for interaction with protein cofactors or transcription factors is different and is markedly influenced by cell context. Thus, the F domain of the ER has a specific modulatory function that affects the agonist/antagonist effectiveness of antiestrogens and the transcriptional activity of the liganded ER in cells.

Antiestrogens: mechanisms and actions in target cells

Antiestrogens, acting via the estrogen receptor (ER) evoke conformational changes in the ER and inhibit the effects of estrogens as well as exerting anti-growth factor activities. Although the binding of estrogens and antiestrogens is mutually competitive, studies with ER mutants indicate that some of the contact sites of estrogens and antiestrogens are likely different. Some mutations in the hormone-binding domain of the ER and deletions of C-terminal regions result in ligand discrimination mutants, i.e. receptors that are differentially altered in their ability to bind and/or mediate the actions of estrogens vs antiestrogens. Studies in a variety of cell lines and with different promoters indicate marked cell context- and promoter-dependence in the actions of antiestrogens and variant ERs. In several cell systems, estrogens and protein kinase activators such as cAMP synergize to enhance the transcriptional activity of the ER in a promoter-specific manner. In addition, cAMP changes the agonist/antagonist balance of tamoxifen-like antiestrogens, increasing their agonistic activity and reducing their efficacy in reversing estrogen actions. Estrogens, and antiestrogens to a lesser extent, as well as protein kinase activators and growth factors increase phosphorylation of the ER and/or proteins involved in the ER-specific response pathway. These changes in phosphorylation alter the biological effectiveness of the ER. Multiple interactions among different cellular signal transduction systems are involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and gene expression by estrogens and antiestrogens.

Estrogen receptor mutants which do not bind 17 beta-estradiol dimerize and bind to the estrogen response element in vivo

To investigate the stage in estrogen receptor (ER) action at which hormone functions, we prepared human ER mutants unable to bind 17 beta-estradiol. In transfected Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, two of the ER mutants exhibited less than 5% of the ability to activate transcription shown by wild type ER. Immunoprecipitation followed by Western blotting with monoclonal antibodies was used to examine the ability of the ER mutants to form heterodimers with a truncated form of wild type ER. The non-hormone-binding mutants formed heterodimers with the truncated ER as efficiently as wild type ER. We used a promoter interference assay to measure the interaction of the ER with the estrogen response element (ERE) in vivo. Expression plasmids encoding the ER mutants and wild type ER were transfected into CHO cells across a range of concentrations, resulting in both high and low levels of promoter interference. The ER mutants and wild type ER elicited similar levels of promoter interference, indicating that although they were unable to bind ligand, the ER mutants bound to the ERE in vivo as effectively as wild type ER. Additional evidence that the non-hormone-binding ER mutants are not in a functionally inactive complex comes from their ability to suppress the activity of wild type ER, when they were coexpressed in the same cells. These data support a model for ER action in which the unliganded ER is free to dimerize and bind to the ERE. In this model, the primary role of 17 beta-estradiol in ER action is to induce a conformational change which activates the ligand-dependent transactivation domain.

Inhibitory cross-talk between steroid hormone receptors: differential targeting of estrogen receptor in the repression of its transcriptional activity by agonist- and antagonist-occupied progestin receptors

Although estrogen receptor (ER) and progestin receptor (PR) are members of different steroid hormone receptor subfamilies, there is considerable biological evidence for cross-talk between the estrogen and progestin hormone-receptor signaling pathways. We have developed a model system to analyze the mechanisms underlying this cross-talk, specifically the repression of ER-mediated transcriptional activity by PR complexed with agonistic or antagonistic ligands. Estrogen- and progestin-responsive reporter vectors containing a variety of promoters were transfected into primary cultures of rat uterine cells and 3T3 mouse fibroblasts with expression vectors for PR (the A and/or B isoforms) as well as ER. Our results demonstrate that both PR isoforms can act as potent ligand-dependent repressors of ER activity. The magnitude of the repression was dependent on the PR isoform (i.e., PR A or PR B), ligand type (i.e., agonist or antagonist), PR levels, and ligand concentration but was unaffected by the ER levels. The promoter context was important in determining both the magnitude and PR isoform specificity of the repression for agonist-occupied PR but not for antagonist-occupied PR. Ligand-occupied PR A was a stronger repressor of ER-mediated transcriptional activity than was ligand-occupied PR B, and antagonist-occupied PR was a more effective repressor than agonist-occupied PR. Mechanistic studies suggest that liganded PR represses ER activity by interfering with its ability to interact productively with the transcriptional machinery, a process known as quenching. The data do not support competitive repression, direct repression, or squelching as the mechanism of PR's inhibitory effect. Experiments with ER mutants demonstrated that the N-terminal portion of ER was required for repression by agonist-occupied PR but not by antagonist-occupied PR. These results, as well as other differences between the two PR-ligand complexes, suggest that they differentially target ER when repressing ER transcriptional activity. These findings underscore the mounting evidence for the importance of interactions between members of the steroid hormone receptor family.

Alterations in transforming growth factor-alpha and -beta production and cell responsiveness during the progression of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells to estrogen-autonomous growth

Hormonal management of breast cancer is confounded by an almost inevitable progression of cell growth from a steroid-regulated to a steroid-autonomous state. We have experimentally induced this progression in the estrogen growth-responsive MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line by long-term culture in the absence of steroids. After an initial period (10-12 weeks) of slowed growth in response to steroid deprivation, rapid, steroid-independent growth rates were consistently established. In these cells, which contained 3-fold elevated, functional estrogen receptor levels (as determined by induction of PgR and transactivation of a transiently transfected estrogen-responsive gene construct), antiestrogens still effectively suppressed cell proliferation, although estrogens only minimally increased the proliferation rate. Depletion of steroids from the growth media also resulted in a marked (70-80%) transient decrease in transforming growth factor (TGF) alpha mRNA and TGF-alpha protein production at 2 weeks that was followed by a progressive, partial return to the initial parental TGF-alpha mRNA and protein levels. In contrast, the mRNAs for TGF-beta 1, -beta 2, and -beta 3 and bioactive TGF-beta proteins transiently increased (3-10-fold) at 2 to 10 weeks of steroid deprivation and then returned by 24 weeks to the lower levels of the parental MCF-7 cells. These results suggest that the cells acquired steroid-independent means to regulate the production of these peptides. The long-term steroid-deprived sublines showed a loss of regulation of proliferation by TGF-alpha or anti-TGF-alpha antibodies and a 10-fold decrease in sensitivity to the growth-suppressive effects of TGF-beta 1, despite little change in receptor levels for these factors. The diminished contributions of TGF-alpha and TGF-beta s to the regulation of cell proliferation in long-term steroid-deprived MCF-7 breast cancer cells suggest that the TGFs do not act as major growth regulators in these estrogen-autonomous sublines. However, the marked, transient alterations in the levels of these growth factors indicate that they may play a role in the events which accompany the progression from estrogen-responsive to estrogen-autonomous growth. In addition, continued exposure to estrogen may be needed for the long-term maintenance of cell responsiveness to these TGFs.

Activation of transcriptionally inactive human estrogen receptors by cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate and ligands including antiestrogens

We show that some transcriptionally inactive human estrogen receptor (ER) mutants can be activated by 17 beta-estradiol (E2), and sometimes by antiestrogens, in the presence of elevated levels of intracellular cAMP. ER-deficient Chinese hamster ovary or 3T3 mouse fibroblast cells were transfected with mutant ERs (the point mutant L540Q, the frameshift mutant S554fs, or the carboxy-terminal truncated receptor ER1-530) and various estrogen response element-containing reporter genes. Individual treatments with E2, the antiestrogens trans-hydroxytamoxifen and ICI 164,384, or with 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine plus cholera toxin (IBMX plus CT) which raise intracellular cAMP, generally do not activate the mutant receptors. However, cotreatment with IBMX/CT and one of the three ligands (E2, trans-hydroxytamoxifen, or ICI164,384) results in the unexpected recovery of strong activation of the L540Q or S554fs receptors, the magnitude of which is dependent upon promoter- and cell-contexts. Unlike L540Q and S554fs, the transcriptionally inactive ER1-530 is not activated by any combination of ligands and IBMX/CT. These data demonstrate that some ER mutants that form transcriptionally nonproductive ER-E2 complexes can be successfully activated by the combination of an agonist or antagonist ligand and an agent thought to act via phosphorylation pathways. Also highlighted is the promoter- and cell-specific nature of the transcriptional response to different ligand-ER complexes. Lastly, the enhanced transcriptional activity of wild type ER and some ER mutants in the presence of antiestrogens and elevated intracellular cAMP may provide a partial explanation of the ability of some estrogen-dependent human breast tumors to resist antiestrogen therapies currently employed.

Estrogen action via the cAMP signaling pathway: stimulation of adenylate cyclase and cAMP-regulated gene transcription

Estrogenic hormones, believed to exert most of their effects via the direct interaction of their receptors with chromatin, are found to increase cAMP in target breast cancer and uterine cells in culture and in the intact uterus in vivo. Increases in intracellular cAMP are evoked by very low concentrations of estradiol (half maximal at 10 pM) and by other physiologically active estrogens and antiestrogens, but not by an inactive estrogen stereoisomer. These increases in cAMP result from enhanced membrane adenylate cyclase activity by a mechanism that does not involve genomic actions of the hormones (are not blocked by inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis). The estrogen-stimulated levels of cAMP are sufficient to activate transcription from cAMP response element-containing genes and reporter plasmid constructs. Our findings document a nongenomic action of estrogenic hormones that involves the activation of an important second-messenger signaling system and suggest that estrogen regulation of cAMP may provide an additional mechanism by which this steroid hormone can alter the expression of genes.

Identification of multiple, widely spaced estrogen-responsive regions in the rat progesterone receptor gene

Progesterone receptors (PRs) mediate the actions of progestin hormones and play important roles during the reproductive cycle and pregnancy. Since PR expression is known to be regulated by estrogen, we have undertaken studies to examine the mechanisms underlying this regulation. We have identified multiple distinct regions of the rat PR gene, widely spaced and spread throughout the 5'-flanking region, the 5'-untranslated region, and the first exon (between -2264 and +2241), that can form a strong estrogen-responsive enhancer when linked together. Estrogen-responsive activities for two of the regions in isolation (+461/+636 and +2176/+2241) were demonstrated in one or more homologous or heterologous promoter contexts. The contributions of the other regions (-2264/-1970, -1167/-957 and +2088/+2110) to the overall activity of the assembled enhancer were cryptic in that they were only observed in the context of the other PR gene fragments, not in isolation. We identified four weak, but functional, imperfect estrogen response elements (EREs) in these regions of the PR gene, each differing from the consensus by 2 base pairs. In addition, we identified four ERE half-sites in the PR gene, three of which are paired (i.e. < 150 base pairs away) with the EREs in the estrogen-responsive regions. Competitive gel shift assays demonstrated weak, but detectable, binding of estrogen receptor to the EREs. Of note, the estrogen-responsive enhancer assembled from the five regions of the PR gene exhibited promoter specificity; it conferred estrogen responsiveness of the distal PR gene promoter, but it failed to enhance the endogenous estrogen responsiveness of the proximal PR gene promoter. The positioning of response elements in the rat PR gene, which we show to be unique among steroid hormone-regulated genes, may have functional consequences for the regulation of the magnitude and timing of PR gene expression by estrogen.

Bivalent ligands as probes of estrogen receptor action

The estrogen receptor (ER) is a hormone-regulated transcription factor which is thought to bind to specific DNA sequences as a homodimer. In order to better understand structural requirements for dimerization and its functional role in ER action, we synthesized a series of bivalent ligands based on the non-steroidal estrogen hexestrol. These molecular probes join two hexestrol molecules of the erythro (E, active) configuration with either 4 or 8 carbon linkers (designated E-4-E and E-8-E series, respectively), or with longer linkers comprised of ethylene glycol units (E-eg-E series). Several other bi- and monovalent control compounds were prepared. The bivalent ligands bind to ER with a relative affinity 1-7% that of estradiol. While most of the ligands demonstrated normal monophasic displacement curves in competitive binding assays with [3H]estradiol, uncharacteristic biphasic competitive binding curves were seen for some of the ligands, indicating possible structure-specific, negative site-site interaction. In ER-deficient Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with an expression vector encoding ER, one series of bivalent ligands (E-4-E) had little stimulatory activity and inhibited transcription stimulated by hexestrol, as determined by a transient transfection assay using an estrogen-responsive reporter gene construct [(ERE)2-TATA-CAT, containing two estrogen response elements linked to a TATA promoter and the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase reporter gene]. Monovalent or control bivalent ligands failed to antagonize hexestrol-stimulated activity and were as fully active as hexestrol itself. Studies performed in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, which contain endogenous ER, yielded similar bioactivity profiles for the E-4-E bivalent inhibitory ligands, showing them to be effective estrogen antagonists, when using either induction of progesterone receptor or (ERE)2-TATA-CAT transcriptional activation as the endpoint. The E-8-E ligand, however, acted as a partial agonist/antagonist of ERE-reporter gene transactivation and a full agonist of progesterone receptor induction in MCF-7 cells, thus showing cell- and response-specific differences in the effects of this bivalent ligand. These bivalent ligands for ER do not show enhanced potency or receptor binding affinity; however, some of them display binding properties that suggest the possibility of structure-specific negative site-site interaction, and some of them function as quite effective estrogen antagonists.

Alteration in the agonist/antagonist balance of antiestrogens by activation of protein kinase A signaling pathways in breast cancer cells: antiestrogen selectivity and promoter dependence

We find that stimulation of the protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells changes the agonist/antagonist activity of tamoxifen and related antiestrogens; it activates or enhances their estrogen agonist activity and reduces their ability to antagonize the effects of estradiol (E2). In MCF-7 human breast cancer cells which contain high levels of endogenous estrogen receptor (ER), the antiestrogen trans-hydroxy-tamoxifen (TOT) fails to stimulate transcription of the estrogen-responsive promoter-reporter constructs estrogen response element (ERE)-TATA-chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT), (ERE)2-TATA-CAT, and pS2-CAT. However, when cells are treated with isobutyl methylxanthine plus cholera toxin (which increases intracellular cAMP approximately 10-fold), or with 8-bromo-cAMP, or are transfected with expression vectors for the PKA catalytic subunits, the transcriptional activity of the antiestrogen-ER complex is now increased, to levels 20-75% that of E2, and TOT also becomes much less effective in antagonizing the stimulation of transcription by E2. Although this alteration in the agonist and antagonist activity of TOT is observed with three promoter-reporter constructs, containing a simple TATA promoter or a more complex, pS2 promoter, elevation of cAMP did not enhance the transcription by either TOT or E2 of the reporter plasmid ERE-thymidine kinase-CAT. Thus, this phenomenon is promoter specific. The maximal stimulatory effects of isobutylmethylxanthine plus cholera toxin and PKA catalytic subunits on TOT and E2 transcriptional enhancement were not additive, consistent with the hypothesis that they are both acting via stimulation of the same signal transduction pathway.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Phosphorylation of the human estrogen receptor. Identification of hormone-regulated sites and examination of their influence on transcriptional activity

We have used a transient transfection system with a cytomegalovirus-based vector expressing high levels of biologically active human estrogen receptor (ER) in COS-1 cells to study the phosphorylation of human ER and to identify major hormone-regulated phosphorylation sites. The features of phosphorylation of the wild-type ER were very similar to those previously observed for the endogenous ER in uterine cells: The ER exhibited a basal level of phosphorylation which was increased approximately 3-4-fold by estrogen (estradiol) and by antiestrogens (hydroxytamoxifen and ICI164,384), and phosphorylation was increased to an almost similar extent by activation of either protein kinase A or C signal transduction pathways with cholera toxin plus isobutyl methylxanthine (CT+IBMX) or phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), respectively. Phosphoamino acid analysis revealed that the phosphorylation occurred exclusively on serine residues in all cases. Tryptic phosphopeptide analysis of ER, using a two-dimensional peptide mapping procedure, revealed similar patterns for ER in cells treated with estradiol, antiestrogens or TPA; with CT+IBMX treatment, the same phosphopeptides were seen, but the relative phosphorylation of the different ER phosphotryptic peptides differed. In ER deleted of the NH2-terminal A and B (A/B) domains, estrogen and antiestrogen-stimulated phosphorylations were abolished, while the phosphorylation induced by CT+IBMX was maintained. This suggests that sites of phosphorylation enhanced by estradiol and antiestrogen, but not those induced by CT+IBMX, are located in the A/B domain. These results were further confirmed by comparing the tryptic phosphopeptide patterns of wild-type and A/B-deleted receptor upon estradiol and CT+IBMX treatments, and then by site-directed mutagenesis, by substituting alanines for the serine residues in the A/B domain (Ser104, Ser106, Ser118, Ser154, and Ser167) involved in known protein kinase consensus sequences. Comparison of the tryptic phosphopeptide patterns of wild-type ER and these mutant ERs allowed us to identify serine 104 and/or serine 106 and serine 118, all three being part of a serine-proline motif, the preferred substrate of proline-directed protein kinase, as major ER phosphorylation sites. When tested with two estrogen-responsive reporter gene constructs in several cell types, the mutant S104A, S106A, S118A showed a approximately 40% reduction in transactivation activity in response to E2, while the mutants S118A and S104A, S106A alone showed a approximately 15% decrease in transactivation. Our studies identify several serines in the NH2-terminal portion of the human ER as being major hormone-regulated phosphorylation sites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Regulation of progesterone receptor gene expression in MCF-7 breast cancer cells: a comparison of the effects of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate, estradiol, insulin-like growth factor-I, and serum factors

We have compared regulation of progesterone receptor (PR) gene expression in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells by cAMP and that by estradiol (E2) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). Treatment of cells with 8-bromo-cAMP or agents known to activate protein kinase-A, namely cholera toxin plus 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (CT plus IBMX; which increased intracellular cAMP > 10-fold) evoked an increase in PR protein levels as did treatment with IGF-I or E2. Increases in PR caused by IGF-I were not accompanied by increases in PR mRNA, whereas PR mRNA levels were markedly induced by E2 and CT plus IBMX, showing regulation at different levels by these agents. The increases in PR mRNA evoked by E2 or CT plus IBMX were almost completely abolished by treatment with antiestrogen. Treatment with cycloheximide inhibited CT- plus IBMX-mediated PR mRNA stimulation, but not the induction of E2, indicating that the PR mRNA response to cAMP is not a primary one and probably requires de novo protein synthesis. Distinct effects of serum were observed on the expression of PR in MCF-7 cells. PR mRNA and protein were consistently elevated when cells were cultured under low serum conditions (0-0.5% charcoal dextran-treated calf serum) and were reduced as the serum concentration was increased, suggesting that a serum factor(s) repress constitutive PR levels. Also, the ability of CT plus IBMX to stimulate PR declined markedly for cells grown in medium containing higher (5%) serum levels; by contrast, the ability of E2 to induce PR was increased at the higher serum concentration. Thus, unknown serum factors interfere with the action of cAMP in up-regulating PR, whereas serum factors are important for the effectiveness of E2 in stimulating PR. These observations indicate that regulation of PR occurs at different levels by several factors (cAMP, E2, and IGF-I) and imply that cAMP, serum factors, and growth factors, such as IGF-I, in addition to E2 will be of importance in determining PR levels and, hence, cell sensitivity to progestins.

An assessment of the role of domain F and PEST sequences in estrogen receptor half-life and bioactivity

The estrogen receptor (ER) is a rapidly turning over protein, with a half-life of ca. 3-4 h in estrogen target cells. Sequence analysis of the human ER reveals a putative PEST sequence, sequences rich in proline (P), glutamic acid (E), serine (S) and threonine (T), in the carboxy-terminal F domain of the protein. Since PEST sequences have been implicated in the rapid turnover of some proteins, we have used site-directed mutagenesis to investigate the role of the F region containing PEST residues in the stability and bioactivity of the receptor. A truncated form of ER lacking the last 41 amino acids of the protein and encompassing the PEST sequences (amino acids 555 to 567) was made by mutagenesis of the ER cDNA. Pulse-chase experiments, involving immunoprecipitation of [35S]methionine/[35S]cysteine labeled receptors or of receptors covalently labeled with tamoxifen aziridine followed by gel electrophoresis, were used to determine the half-life of the wild-type and truncated ERs. These experiments showed that the turnover rate of the receptors expressed in Chinese hamster ovary and monkey kidney (COS-1) cells was 3 to 5 h and that elimination of the PEST residues did not have a significant effect on the degradation rate of the protein. Moreover, deletion of the last 41 amino acids (F domain) of the ER did not affect transactivation ability, ligand binding affinity, or the phosphorylation pattern of the receptor. Therefore, the role of domain F in ER function remains unclear, but it is not a determinant of the relatively rapid rate of ER turnover in cells.

Hormone binding and transcription activation by estrogen receptors: analyses using mammalian and yeast systems

We have used affinity labeling, site-directed mutagenesis and regional chemical mutagenesis in order to determine regions of the human estrogen receptor (ER) important in hormone binding, ligand discrimination between estrogens and antiestrogens, and transcriptional activation. Affinity labeling studies with the antiestrogen, tamoxifen aziridine and the estrogen, ketononestrol aziridine have identified cysteine 530 in the ER hormone binding domain as the primary site of labeling. In the absence of a cysteine at 530 (i.e. C530 mutant), C381 becomes the site of estrogen-compatible tamoxifen aziridine labeling. Hence these two residues, although far apart in the primary linear sequence of the ER protein, must be close in the three-dimensional structure of the protein, in the ER ligand binding pocket, so that the ligand can reach either site. Site-directed mutagenesis of selected residues in the ER and region-specific chemical mutagenesis of the ER hormone binding domain with initial phenotypic screening in yeast have enabled the identification of a region near C530 important in discrimination between estrogens and antiestrogens and of other residues important in hormone-dependent transcriptional activation. Some ER mutants with alterations in the carboxy-terminal portion of the hormone binding domain are transcriptionally inactive yet bind hormone and also function as potent dominant negative ERs, suppressing the activity of wild-type ER at low concentrations. These studies reveal a separation of the hormone binding and transcription activation functions of the ER. They are also beginning to provide a more detailed picture of the ER hormone binding domain and amino acids important in ligand binding and discrimination between different categories of agonist and antagonist ligands. Such information will be important in the design of maximally effective antiestrogens. In addition, since there is now substantial evidence for a mixture of wild-type and variant ERs in breast cancers, our studies should provide insight about the bioactivities of these variant receptors and their roles in modulating the activity of wild type ER, and should lead to a better understanding of the possible role of variant receptors in altered response or resistance to antiestrogen and endocrine therapy in breast cancer. In addition, some dominant negative receptors may prove useful in examining ER mechanisms of action and in suppressing the estrogen-dependent growth of breast cancer cells.

Cloning of the rat progesterone receptor gene 5'-region and identification of two functionally distinct promoters

To examine some of the molecular mechanisms controlling transcription of the rat progesterone receptor (PR) gene, we have cloned and sequenced the 5'-region of the gene. Northern blot analyses with a series of probes identified two regions where distinct subsets of the multiple PR gene transcripts initiated, suggesting the presence of two promoters in the gene. Promoter activities for two gene fragments encompassing these regions, -131/+65 (P; distal) and +461/+675 (P'; proximal), were demonstrated in transient transfection experiments using reporter constructs containing the gene fragments linked individually upstream of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene. Cotransfection of P-CAT or P'-CAT constructs containing two upstream GAL4 binding sites into primary cultures of rat uterine cells with a vector expressing a GAL4 DNA binding domain-VP16 activating region fusion protein resulted in a 10-fold increase in CAT activity relative to cells transfected with either reporter and a vector expressing only the GAL4 DNA binding domain. The estrogen inducibility of the promoter-CAT constructs was assessed by transfection into MCF-7 breast cancer cells, which contain high levels of estrogen receptor (ER). P'-CAT, but not P-CAT, was induced by estradiol (E2; 8-fold). In primary rat uterine cells, which contain lower levels of ER, P'-CAT required the addition of one upstream consensus estrogen response element (ERE) to be estrogen inducible, whereas P-CAT required the addition of two EREs. Point and deletion mutants of the proximal promoter region in the P'-CAT reporter, screened in MCF-7 cells, were used to identify a 20-base pair fragment (+617/+636) that retained the promoter activity and 50% of the estrogen inducibility of P'. This fragment contained an ERE-like sequence conserved in 8 of 10 positions relative to the consensus ERE. Two copies of this sequence conferred estrogen inducibility (4-fold) when placed upstream of the distal promoter in P-CAT. To examine ER-dependent stimulation of the two PR gene promoters by cAMP, P-CAT and P'-CAT reporter constructs containing two upstream consensus EREs were cotransfected into ER-negative 3T3 cells with an ER expression vector. Induction by E2 was greater than 50-fold for both constructs. Treatment of the cells with agents that increase intracellular cAMP levels, namely cholera toxin plus isobutyl methylxanthine, resulted in CAT activity that was 8% and 51% of the E2-stimulated activity for the P and P' constructs, respectively.

Structure-function analysis of the hormone binding domain of the human estrogen receptor by region-specific mutagenesis and phenotypic screening in yeast

To investigate the structural requirements for recognition and response to ligands by the human estrogen receptor (hER), a series of point mutations were generated in the hormone binding domain (HBD) of the receptor using a limited formic acid treatment of its cDNA. Receptors having a reduced sensitivity to the estrogen, 17 beta-estradiol (E2), or to the antiestrogen, trans-hydroxytamoxifen, were selected from a library of intact hER cDNAs containing these mutant HBDs by expression and phenotypic screening in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Several were sequenced, and the encoded receptors were characterized in both yeast and mammalian (Chinese hamster ovary) cells using hormone-binding and transactivation assays. In general, parallel phenotypes were observed in yeast and in Chinese hamster ovary cells following estrogen exposure. We report on 15 receptors having point mutations located at various positions throughout the HBD. Four categories of mutants were identified: 1) those showing no change from wild type in their response to E2; 2) those showing a greatly reduced transactivation response over the range of ligand concentrations tested; 3) those requiring much higher concentrations of E2 for maximal transactivation, indicating a reduced sensitivity to ligand; and 4) those showing reduced response to E2, but little change in response to trans-hydroxytamoxifen in yeast. Two mutations in the carboxyl terminus of the HBD eliminated hormone-dependent transactivation despite the continued ability to bind E2 with high affinity. Therefore, our results show a separation of the transactivation and hormone-binding functions of the hER, and indicate that the integrity of many regions throughout the large, approximately 250-amino acid HBD is important for these functions. Our studies also demonstrate the advantages of using regional mutagenesis combined with phenotypic screening in yeast to complement site-directed mutagenesis when investigating a large, functionally complex region.

Identification of charged residues in an N-terminal portion of the hormone-binding domain of the human estrogen receptor important in transcriptional activity of the receptor

We have shown that charged amino acids near C530 of the human estrogen receptor (ER) are involved in receptor discrimination between estrogen and antiestrogen. We now examine the role of charged residues, adjacent to the three other cysteines (381, 417, and 447) in the hormone-binding domain of the human ER, in the hormone-binding, DNA-binding, and transcription activation abilities of the receptor. Mutation of the one charged amino acid nearest to C381 gave a mutant receptor (E380Q) requiring two to three times less estradiol (E2) than wild type (WT) ER to achieve maximal activity and having activity in the absence of added estrogen that was 6-fold higher than that of WT receptor. The enhanced ability of this mutant to bind to estrogen response element DNA in the absence and presence of estrogen may, at least in part, explain its elevated, seemingly constitutive trans-activation activity and its increased sensitivity to estrogen. While more sensitive to E2, this E380Q mutant was less sensitive than WT ER to antiestrogen for suppression of transcriptional activity. Mutation of all three charged residues nearest to C381 (the triple mutant D374N, E380Q, and E385Q) resulted in a greatly reduced potency of the receptor in trans-activation with no change in estrogen-binding affinity. When K449 (near C447), highly conserved among steroid receptors, was mutated to Q, 400-fold more E2 was required for maximal reporter gene trans-activation due to an unstable, temperature-sensitive hormone-receptor complex. In contrast, the mutant K416Q (near C417) was unaltered in E2-binding or receptor transcriptional activity. These studies reveal a region in the N-terminal portion of the hormone-binding domain (ca. amino acids 374-385) where alterations in charged residues result in either increases or decreases in receptor transcriptional activity with no change in receptor affinity for hormone. Our findings suggest that this region may be important in DNA binding and protein-protein interactions that modulate transcriptional activity of the ER. In addition, the region near C447, which is well conserved among steroid receptors, appears to be important in maintaining the receptor in a conformation that is stable at physiological (37 C) temperatures. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an ER (E380Q) with a sensitivity to E2 for trans-activation greater than that of WT receptor and having high trans-activation activity in the absence of added hormone.

Powerful dominant negative mutants of the human estrogen receptor

We have identified and characterized three human estrogen receptor (ER) mutants, which, at low concentrations, are capable of blocking the intracellular activity of wild type ER. The mutants, a truncated ER (ER1-530), a point mutant (L540Q), and a frameshift (S554fs), were generated by random chemical mutagenesis of the ER hormone binding domain and screened first for low activity in a yeast selection system. In transient co-transfection assays using ER-deficient Chinese hamster ovary cells, all three mutants exhibited less than 10% of the transcription activation activity of wild type ER, and when co-expressed with wild type ER, each of the mutants effectively suppressed the ability of wild type ER to activate transcription of an estrogen-regulated reporter plasmid. When equal amounts of plasmid encoding the ER mutants and wild type ER were used, S554fs, ER1-530, and L540Q suppressed the activity of wild type ER by 80, 55, and 75%, respectively. At a ratio of 1 part S554fs to 10 parts wild type ER, transcription was still inhibited by 40%. Western blot analysis showed that all three mutants were expressed at approximately the same level as wild type ER. Suppression of transcription was specific for ER, since the mutants did not inhibit progesterone receptor-mediated transcription. Not all mutations leading to inactive ER confer the dominant negative phenotype, as five ER mutants rendered transcriptionally inactive by point mutations between residues 516 and 524 of the ER hormone binding domain were poor inhibitors of wild type ER activity. Binding studies showed that the L540Q and S554fs dominant negative mutants bound 17 beta-estradiol with wild type affinity (Kd = 0.3-0.5 nM), whereas ER1-530 exhibited a 15-fold reduction in affinity for estradiol. The three dominant negative ERs showed significant ability to interact with the estrogen response element (ERE) in promoter interference assays, but ER1-530 and S554fs displayed little or no binding to the ERE in gel mobility shift assays where higher affinity for the DNA may be required for the receptor-ERE complex to remain associated during the electrophoresis. These data support the idea that, in all three mutants, it is loss of function of the COOH-terminal transactivation domain which leads to the dominant negative phenotype. S554fs, a powerful dominant negative mutant, is a good candidate for further studies aimed at suppressing the estrogen-dependent growth of human breast cancer cells.

Stimulation of estrogen receptor-mediated transcription and alteration in the phosphorylation state of the rat uterine estrogen receptor by estrogen, cyclic adenosine monophosphate, and insulin-like growth factor-I

We have shown previously that exposure of rat uterine cells in primary culture to estradiol (E2), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), or agents which alter intracellular cAMP levels, such as cholera toxin plus isobutylmethylxanthine (CT + IBMX) and 8-Br-cAMP, results in the up-regulation of cellular levels of the progesterone receptor, an effect believed to be mediated through the activation of estrogen receptor (ER) and phosphorylation pathways. We have therefore undertaken studies using transient transfection of these uterine cell cultures with a simple estrogen-responsive reporter gene in order to determine the ability of these agents to stimulate ER-mediated gene transcription directly. We also compared the ability of these same agents to alter the phosphorylation state of the endogenous uterine ER protein. Plasmid DNA containing two tandem estrogen responsive elements and a TATA box linked to the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) gene was introduced into immature rat uterine cells grown in primary culture. Treatment of transfected cells with 10(-9) M E2, CT (1 micrograms/ml) + IBMX (10(-4) M), 8-Br-cAMP (10(-4) M), or IGF-I (20 ng/ml) resulted in an 8- to 10-fold induction of CAT activity. CAT activity stimulated by all agents was nearly completely suppressed by coincubation with the antiestrogen ICI 164,384 (ICI) or the protein kinase (PK) inhibitor H8. CAT activity induced by 8-Br-cAMP was more readily suppressed by ICI than that induced by E2, indicating that ER in cells exposed to 8-Br-cAMP is either unoccupied or minimally occupied by ligand. The level of ER phosphorylation in uterine cells was increased 3- to 5-fold upon exposure to E2, CT + IBMX, 8-Br-cAMP, or IGF-I. Of interest, the antiestrogen ICI also elicited a similar increase in overall ER phosphorylation. The PK inhibitors H8 and PKI suppressed the increase in overall ER phosphorylation stimulated by these agents by 50-75%. The results of our study indicate that E2, IGF-I, and agents which raise intracellular cAMP are able to stimulate ER-mediated trans-activation and ER phosphorylation. The fact that antiestrogen (ICI) evokes a similar increase in ER phosphorylation without a similar increase in transcription activation indicates that an increase in overall ER phosphorylation does not necessarily result in increased transcriptional activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Regulation of progesterone receptor gene expression and growth in the rat uterus: modulation of estrogen actions by progesterone and sex steroid hormone antagonists

Although the rat uterus has often been used as a model to study estrogen action, relatively little is known of the mechanism(s) by which estrogen regulates uterine progesterone receptor (PR) levels in this species. In the present study, we used immature ovariectomized rats to examine the regulation of PR gene expression and growth in the uterus by estradiol (E2) as well as hormonal modulators of E2 action, namely progesterone (P), the antiestrogen LY117018 (LY), and the antiprogestin RU486. Northern blot analyses revealed eight PR mRNA species ranging in size from 3.3-14 kilobases, with the most abundant being 7.1 kilobases. E2 treatment caused rapid time- and dose-dependent increases in the steady state levels of PR mRNA, which peaked at 24 h (6-fold increase) and declined thereafter. All eight PR mRNA transcripts increased proportionally in response to E2. Immunoblot analyses indicated that these changes were accompanied by increases in PR protein (6-fold increase by 48 h), which continued to accumulate over time, unlike PR mRNA, which decreased despite continued E2 exposure. In contrast to the stimulatory effect of E2 on PR, the levels of immunoreactive estrogen receptor were reduced to about 15% of the control value by E2 within 48 h and remained low throughout the remaining treatment period. Treatment with P blocked the stimulatory effects of E2 on both PR mRNA and protein. These antagonistic actions of P were prevented by simultaneous administration of RU486. LY, which caused a slight (approximately 2.5-fold) increase in PR mRNA when administered alone, was an effective antagonist of E2-stimulated increases in PR mRNA. However, LY was incapable of completely antagonizing E2-stimulated increases in PR protein. The differences between the profiles of the time-dependent increases in PR mRNA and protein in response to E2, as well as the different sensitivities of these two end points to the antagonistic actions of LY, highlight the lack of direct correspondence between these two end points and suggest that E2 may be acting through distinct mechanisms (transcriptional and posttranscriptional, for example) to increase the levels of PR in the rat uterus. Our results indicate that E2 rapidly increases uterine PR expression and growth, and that P as well as sex steroid hormone antagonists are important modulators of these E2 actions in the rat uterus.

Synergistic activation of estrogen receptor-mediated transcription by estradiol and protein kinase activators

Since we have observed effects of growth factors and cAMP as well as estradiol (E2) on regulation of expression of some genes stimulated by the estrogen receptor (ER), we have undertaken studies to examine directly whether activators of protein kinases can modulate transcriptional activity of the ER. We find that activators of protein kinase-A [cholera toxin plus 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (CT+IBMX)] and protein kinase-C [12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)] markedly synergize with E2 in ER-mediated transcriptional activation. When a reporter plasmid [with a minimal promoter containing a TATA region and estrogen-responsive elements (ERE) linked to a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene] was transfected into MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, which contain endogenous ER, E2 evoked a dose-dependent increase in CAT activity. While treatment with protein kinase-A or -C activator alone evoked only very low CAT activity, the maximal (approximately 25-fold) CAT activity stimulated by E2 alone was increased 2- to 3-fold (to approximately 60 times the control value) upon cotreatment with either of the protein kinase activators. Interestingly, antiestrogen abolished all of the CAT activity induced by E2 and protein kinase activators. Immunoblots showed that TPA reduced ER levels to 30% of control values after 24 h, while CT+IBMX increased levels about 1.5-fold. Scatchard binding analysis revealed no change in the binding affinity of E2 to ER by these agents. Gel mobility shift competition assays with extracts prepared from cells that had been treated with E2 and protein kinase activators did not reveal any quantitative or qualitative changes in the binding of ER to the ERE in vitro. In ER-deficient Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with the reporter gene and varying amounts of an ER expression vector, the level of CAT activity obtained by cotreatment with E2 and CT+IMBX was 3-fold higher than that observed with E2 alone over the range of different ER amounts tested. This ER-mediated synergism was still retained in an amino-terminal A/B-domain-deleted ER mutant lacking the hormone-independent transcriptional activation function (TAF-1), but was greatly reduced in two hormone-binding domain (region E) mutants that exhibit significantly diminished ligand-dependent transcriptional activation. TPA did not show any synergistic activation with E2 in CHO cells, indicating differences in responses between cell types.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

William L. McGuire Memorial Symposium. Estrogen receptors: ligand discrimination and antiestrogen action

We have used affinity labeling, site-directed mutagenesis and regional chemical mutagenesis in order to determine regions of the estrogen receptor (ER) important in hormone binding, ligand discrimination between estrogens and antiestrogens, and transcriptional activation. Affinity labelling studies with the antiestrogen, tamoxifen aziridine and the estrogen, ketononestrol aziridine have identified cysteine 530 in the ER hormone binding domain as the primary site of labeling. In the absence of a cysteine at 530 (i.e. Cys530A1a mutant), C381 becomes the site of estrogen-compatible tamoxifen aziridine labeling. Hence these two residues, although far apart in the primary linear sequence of the ER protein, must be close in the three-dimensional structure of the protein, in the ER ligand binding pocket, so that the ligand can reach either site. Site-directed and region-specific chemical mutagenesis have identified a region around C530 important in discrimination between estrogens and antiestrogens, and other mutants have allowed identification of residues important in hormone-dependent transcriptional activation. Some transcriptionally inactive ER mutants also function as potent dominant negative ERs, suppressing the activity of wild-type ERs at low concentrations. These studies are beginning to provide a more detailed picture of the ER hormone binding domain and amino acids important in ligand binding and discrimination between different categories of agonist and antagonist ligands. Such information will be important in the design of maximally effective antiestrogens. In addition, since there is now substantial evidence for a mixture of wild-type and variant ERs in breast cancers, our studies should provide insight about the bioactivities of these variant receptors and their roles in modulating the activity of wild type ER, and should lead to a better understanding of the possible role of variant receptors in altered response or resistance to antiestrogen and endocrine therapy in breast cancer.

Identification of two cysteines closely positioned in the ligand-binding pocket of the human estrogen receptor: roles in ligand binding and transcriptional activation

We have previously identified cysteine 530 in the human estrogen receptor (ER) as the major site of attachment for covalently binding affinity ligands and have shown that when this cysteine is mutated to alanine (C530A mutant), the affinity ligand [tamoxifen aziridine (TAZ)] can still bind covalently to the ER, presumably by interaction with a different cysteine(s) in the hormone-binding domain (HBD). Using site-directed mutagenesis, we have determined the alternative ligand attachment site and the functional importance of the cysteines (residues 381, 417, 447, and 530) in the HBD of the ER to the hormone-binding and transcriptional responses to estrogens and antiestrogens. Cysteine 530 plus one or more of these other cysteines were mutated to alanines. Analysis of these mutant ERs expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells provides strong evidence that cysteine 381 is the residue that is preferentially covalently labeled by TAZ in the C530A mutant. Hence, portions of the HBD that are far apart in the linear receptor sequence, namely regions near C381 and C530, are probably closely positioned in the ligand-binding pocket, with the cysteine thiols being 1.1 nm or less apart. The affinity of estradiol binding to receptors was reduced only 2- and 5-fold, respectively, in the double and quadruple Cys to Ala mutants, and estradiol was an effective stimulator of transcription from an estrogen-responsive reporter gene [(ERE)2-TATA-CAT].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Examination of the DNA-binding ability of estrogen receptor in whole cells: implications for hormone-independent transactivation and the actions of antiestrogens

We describe an assay employing the competitive binding of estrogen receptor (ER) with basal transcription factors on a constitutive promoter (cytomegalovirus-hormone response element[s]-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase [CMV-(HRE)n-CAT, containing a hormone response element(s) between the TATA box and the start site of transcription]) to examine the DNA-binding ability of the human ER in whole cells. We used this promoter interference assay to examine the DNA binding of ER in cell lines containing high and low levels of endogenous ER, as well as in CHO cells expressing wild-type and mutant ERs from cotransfected expression vectors. The ER is capable of binding to the promoter interference constructs in the absence of added ligand, and estrogen (estradiol) or antiestrogen (trans-hydroxytamoxifen or ICI 164,384) enhances or stabilizes this interaction. The binding of unoccupied ER to reporter gene activation plasmids results in ligand-independent transactivation, presumably due to the TAF-1 function of the receptor. DNA binding of ER in the absence of ligand is observed in cells containing endogenous ER, or expressed ER, and occurs in cells with high or low receptor contents. Although estrogen- and antiestrogen-occupied ER complexes bind to DNA and reduce the template promoter activity, the extent of suppression achieved by ICI-bound ERs is consistently less than that achieved with the other ligands, presumably caused by the fact that ICI rapidly reduces the level of ER in most of the cells examined. However, the ICI-ER complexes that remain are in sufficient quantity to bind to gene activation reporter constructs, and in these cells, ICI still behaves as a pure antagonist of gene transcription and does not activate reporter genes. Hence, obstruction of ER DNA binding or reduction of ER in target cells may contribute to, but cannot fully explain, the pure antagonist character of the antiestrogen ICI 164,384. In addition, DNA binding by the ER alone is clearly not sufficient for ensuring full activation of transcription and argues for an intermediate in the receptor activation of promoters.