The hepatic Ah receptor for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin: species differences in subunit dissociation

Effects of exposure to 3,6-DBCZ on neurotoxicity and AhR pathway during early life stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Polyhalogenated carbazoles (PHCZs) are emerging environmental pollutants, yet limited information is available on their embryotoxicity and neurotoxicity. Therefore, the current work was performed to investigate the adverse effects of 3,6-dibromocarbazole (3,6-DBCZ), a typical PHCZs homolog, on the early life stages of zebrafish larvae. It revealed that the 96-hour post-fertilization (hpf) median lethal concentration (LC50) value of 3,6-DBCZ in zebrafish larvae was determined to be 0.7988 mg/L. Besides, 3,6-DBCZ reduced survival rates at concentrations ≥ 1 mg/L and decreased hatching rates at ≥ 0.25 mg/L at 48 hpf. In behavior tests, it inhibited locomotor activities and reduced the frequency of recorded acceleration states in response to optesthesia (a sudden bright light stimulus) at concentrations ≥ 160 μg/L. Meanwhile, 3,6-DBCZ exposure decreased the frequency of recorded acceleration states in the startle response (tapping mode) at concentrations ≥ 6.4 μg/L. Pathologically, with the transgenic zebrafish model (hb9-eGFP), we observed a strikingly decreased axon length and number in motor neurons after 3,6-DBCZ treatment, which may be ascribed to the activation of the AhR signaling pathway, as evidenced by the molecular docking analysis and Microscale thermophoresis (MST) assay suggested that 3,6-DBCZ binding to AhR-ARNT2 compound proteins. Through interaction with AhR-ARNT, a striking reduction of the anti-oxidative stress (sod1/2, nqo1, nrf2) and neurodevelopment-related genes (elavl3, gfap, mbp, syn2a) were observed after 3,6-DBCZ challenge, accompanied by a marked increased inflammatory genes (TNFβ, IL1β, IL6). Collectively, our findings reveal a previously unrecognized adverse effect of 3,6-DBCZ on zebrafish neurodevelopment and locomotor behaviors, potentially mediated through the activation of the AhR pathway. Furthermore, it provides direct evidence for the toxic concentrations of 3,6-DBCZ and the potential target signaling in zebrafish larvae, which may be beneficial for the risk assessment of the aquatic ecosystems.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor modulates stroke-induced astrogliosis and neurogenesis in the adult mouse brain

BACKGROUND

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor activated by environmental agonists and dietary tryptophan metabolites for the immune response and cell cycle regulation. Emerging evidence suggests that AHR activation after acute stroke may play a role in brain ischemic injury. However, whether AHR activation alters poststroke astrogliosis and neurogenesis remains unknown.

METHODS

We adopted conditional knockout of AHR from nestin-expressing neural stem/progenitor cells (AHRcKO) and wild-type (WT) mice in the permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model. WT mice were treated with either vehicle or the AHR antagonist 6,2',4'-trimethoxyflavone (TMF, 5 mg/kg/day) intraperitoneally. The animals were examined at 2 and 7 days after MCAO.

RESULTS

The AHR signaling pathway was significantly upregulated after stroke. Both TMF-treated WT and AHRcKO mice showed significantly decreased infarct volume, improved sensorimotor, and nonspatial working memory functions compared with their respective controls. AHR immunoreactivities were increased predominantly in activated microglia and astrocytes after MCAO compared with the normal WT controls. The TMF-treated WT and AHRcKO mice demonstrated significant amelioration of astrogliosis and microgliosis. Interestingly, these mice also showed augmentation of neural progenitor cell proliferation at the ipsilesional neurogenic subventricular zone (SVZ) and the hippocampal subgranular zone. At the peri-infarct cortex, the ipsilesional SVZ/striatum, and the hippocampus, both the TMF-treated and AHRcKO mice demonstrated downregulated IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ, CXCL1, and S100β, and concomitantly upregulated Neurogenin 2 and Neurogenin 1.

CONCLUSION

Neural cell-specific AHR activation following acute ischemic stroke increased astrogliosis and suppressed neurogenesis in adult mice. AHR inhibition in acute stroke may potentially benefit functional outcomes likely through reducing proinflammatory gliosis and preserving neurogenesis.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation mediates kidney disease and renal cell carcinoma

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a well-known ligand-activated cytoplasmic transcription factor that contributes to cellular responses against environmental toxins and carcinogens. AhR is activated by a range of structurally diverse compounds from the environment, microbiome, natural products, and host metabolism, suggesting that AhR possesses a rather promiscuous ligand binding site. Increasing studies have indicated that AhR can be activated by a variety of endogenous ligands and induce the expression of a battery of genes. AhR regulates a variety of physiopathological events, including cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, adhesion and migration. These new roles have expanded our understanding of the AhR signalling pathways and endogenous metabolites interacting with AhR under homeostatic and pathological conditions. Recent studies have demonstrated that AhR is linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In this review, we summarize gut microbiota-derived ligands inducing AhR activity in patients with CKD, CVD, diabetic nephropathy and RCC that may provide a new diagnostic and prognostic approach for complex renal damage. We further highlight polyphenols from natural products as AhR agonists or antagonists that regulate AhR activity. A better understanding of structurally diverse polyphenols and AhR biological activities would allow us to illuminate their molecular mechanism and discover potential therapeutic strategies targeting AhR activation.

The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Relays Metabolic Signals to Promote Cellular Regeneration

While sensing the cell environment, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) interacts with different pathways involved in cellular homeostasis. This review summarizes evidence suggesting that cellular regeneration in the context of aging and diseases can be modulated by AHR signaling on stem cells. New insights connect orphaned observations into AHR interactions with critical signaling pathways such as WNT to propose a role of this ligand-activated transcription factor in the modulation of cellular regeneration by altering pathways that nurture cellular expansion such as changes in the metabolic efficiency rather than by directly altering cell cycling, proliferation, or cell death. Targeting the AHR to promote regeneration might prove to be a useful strategy to avoid unbalanced disruptions of homeostasis that may promote disease and also provide biological rationale for potential regenerative medicine approaches.

Atranorin and lecanoric acid antagonize TCDD-induced xenobiotic response element-driven activity, but not xenobiotic response element-independent activity

Lichens are symbiotic organisms that consist of fungi and photosynthetic symbionts (algae and/or cyanobacteria). Previous studies of their constituents suggested lichens produce many kinds of aromatic secondary metabolites, such as depsides, quinones, and dibenzofurans. In this study, we evaluated the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) antagonistic activity of 17 lichen substances and demonstrated that atranorin (1) and lecanoric acid (2), isolated from Parmotrema tinctorum Hale, showed an inhibitory effect on luciferase activity increased by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), using an XRE-driven pX4TK-Luc reporter gene assay. In addition, CYP1A1 mRNA and protein levels increased by TCDD were also suppressed by 1 and 2. Conversely, neither 1 nor 2 antagonized the suppressive effect of TCDD on interleukin (IL)-1β-induced acute-phase response (APR) gene expression. Thus, we concluded that 1 and 2 were selective AhR modulators that antagonize XRE-dependent activity, but not XRE-independent activity. However, 1 has different characteristics to 2 in that 1 alone showed a suppressive effect on IL-1β-induced APR gene expression in a similar fashion to TCDD.

Persistent binding of ligands to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that mediates many of the biological and toxic effects of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (HAHs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and other structurally diverse ligands. While HAHs are several orders of magnitude more potent in producing AhR-dependent biochemical effects than PAHs or other AhR agonists, only the HAHs have been observed to produce AhR-dependent toxicity in vivo. Here we have characterized the dissociation of a prototypical HAH ligand ([(3)H] 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin [TCDD]) and PAH-like ligand ([(3)H] beta-naphthoflavone [betaNF]) from the guinea pig, hamster, mouse, and rat hepatic cytosolic AhR in order to elucidate the relationship between the apparent ligand-binding affinities and the divergent potency of these chemicals. Both compounds dissociated very slowly from the AhR with the amount of specific binding remaining at 96 h ranging from 53% to 70% for [(3)H]TCDD and 26% to 85% for [(3)H] betaNF, depending upon the species examined. The rate of ligand dissociation was unaffected by protein concentration or incubation temperature. Preincubation of cytosol with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran, carbaryl, or primaquine, prior to the addition of [(3)H]TCDD, shifted the apparent IC(50) of these compounds as competitive AhR ligands by approximately 10- to 50-fold. Our results support the need for reassessment of previous AhR ligand-binding affinity calculations and competitive binding analysis since these measurements are not carried out at equilibrium binding conditions. Our studies suggest that AhR binding affinity/occupancy has little effect on the observed differences in the persistence of gene expression by HAHs and PAHs.

Physicochemical differences in the AH receptors of the most TCDD-susceptible and the most TCDD-resistant rat strains

Long-Evans rats (strain Turku AB; L-E) are at least 1000-fold more sensitive (LD50 about 10 microg/kg) to the acute lethal effects of 2, 3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) than are Han/Wistar (Kuopio; H/W) rats (LD50 > 9600 microg/kg). The AH receptor (AHR) is believed to mediate the toxic effects of TCDD and related halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons. We compared the AHRs of L-E and H/W rats to determine if there were any structural or functional receptor differences that might be related to the dramatic difference in the sensitivity of these two strains to the lethal effects of TCDD. Cytosols from liver and lung of the sensitive L-E rats contained about twofold higher levels of specific binding sites for [3H]TCDD than occurred in H/W rats; the Kd for binding of [3H]TCDD to AHR in hepatic cytosols was similar between the two strains. Addition of the oxyanions, molybdate or tungstate (20 mM), had little effect upon ligand binding to AHR in hepatic cytosols from L-E rats whereas in cytosols from H/W rats these agents substantially diminished or totally abolished TCDD binding. The AHR in H/W cytosols also lost ligand-binding function when NaCl (20 to 400 mM) was added to the buffer whereas, in cytosols from L-E rats, the addition of 400 mM NaCl caused the receptor complex to shift from 9S to 6S during velocity sedimentation but did not destroy ligand binding function. AHR from hepatic cytosol of both the L-E and H/W rats could be transformed to the DNA-binding state in the presence of TCDD or other dioxin congeners as assessed by gel mobility shift assays. The most dramatic difference in AHR properties between L-E and H/W rats is molecular mass. Immunoblotting of cytosolic proteins revealed that the AHR in L-E rats has an apparent mass of approximately 106 kDa, similar to the mass of the receptor previously reported in several other common laboratory rat strains. In contrast, the mass of the AHR in H/W rats is approximately 98 kDa, significantly smaller than the mass of receptor reported in any other rat strains. F1 offspring of a cross between L-E and H/W rats expressed both the 106- and the 98-kDa protein. There was no apparent difference in the mass of the AHR nuclear translocator protein (ARNT) between the two strains, but the hepatic concentration of ARNT was about three times as high in L-E as in H/W rats. It will be interesting to find out how the altered structure of the AHR in H/W rats is related to their remarkable resistance to the lethal effects of TCDD.

The Ah receptor can bind ligand in the absence of receptor-associated heat-shock protein 90

The Ah receptor (AhR) is a soluble ligand-dependent DNA regulatory protein that mediates many of the biological responses to 2,3,7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD, dioxin) and related chemicals. In the absence of ligand, the cytosolic form of the AhR is found complexed with at least two molecules of hsp90, a heat shock protein of 90 kDa. In addition to its role in AhR protein folding and ability to repress the inherent nuclear localization, dimerization, and DNA binding activity of the AhR, it has been reported that hsp90 is absolutely required for maintaining the AhR in its high-affinity ligand binding conformation. The ability of high salt conditions (0. 4 M KCl) to dissociate the multimeric AhR complex into its monomeric form provides us with an avenue to examine the role of hsp90 in AhR ligand binding activity. In contrast to previous reports, we demonstrate that salt-dissociated "hsp90-free" AhR from several species still retains the ability to specifically bind ligand ([3H]TCDD). Although partial inactivation of ligand binding of salt-dissociated rat hepatic AhR was observed (to a maximum of 50% of total AhR binding), the presence of bound ligand protected against this inactivation. Little or no inactivation of the ligand binding ability of salt-dissociated guinea pig or rabbit AhR occurred. Our results not only indicate a significant species-difference in AhR ligand binding stability and/or activity, but also demonstrate that AhR ligand binding activity does not absolutely require the presence of receptor-bound hsp90.

Steroid receptor interactions with heat shock protein and immunophilin chaperones

We have provided a historical perspective on a body of steroid receptor research dealing with the structure and physiological significance of the untransformed 9S receptor that has often confused both novice and expert investigators. The frequent controversies and equivocations of earlier studies were due to the fact that the native, hormone-free state of these receptors is a large multiprotein complex that resisted description for many years because of its unstable and dynamic nature. The untransformed 9S state of the steroid and dioxin receptors has provided a unique system for studying the function of the ubiquitous, abundant, and conserved heat shock protein, hsp90. The hormonal control of receptor association with hsp90 provided a method of manipulating the receptor heterocomplex in a manner that was physiologically meaningful. For several steroid receptors, binding to hsp90 was required for the receptor to be in a native hormone-binding state, and for all of the receptors, hormone binding promoted dissociation of the receptor from hsp90 and conversion of the receptor to the DNA-binding state. Although the complexes between tyrosine kinases and hsp90 were discovered earlier, the hormonal regulation or steroid receptor association with hsp90 permitted much more rapid and facile study of hsp90 function. The observations that hsp90 binds to the receptors through their HBDs and that these domains can be fused to structurally different proteins bringing their function under hormonal control provided a powerful linkage between the hormonal regulation of receptor binding to hsp90 and the initial step in steroid hormone action. Because the 9S receptor hsp90 heterocomplexes could be physically stabilized by molybdate, their protein composition could be readily studied, and it became clear that these complexes are multiprotein structures containing a number of unique proteins, such as FKBP51, FKBP52, CyP-40, and p23, that were discovered because of their presence in these structures. Further analysis showed that hsp90 itself exists in a variety of native multiprotein heterocomplexes independent of steroid receptors and other 'substrate' proteins. Cell-free systems can now be used to study the formation of receptor heterocomplexes. As we outlined in the scheme of Fig. 1, the multicomponent receptor-hsp90 heterocomplex assembly system is being reconstituted, and the importance of individual proteins, such as hsp70, p60, and p23, in the assembly process is becoming recognized. It should be noted that our understanding of the mechanism and purpose of steroid receptor heterocomplex assembly is still at an early stage. We can now speculate on the roles of receptor-associated proteins in receptor action, both as individuals and as a group, but their actual functions are still vague or unknown. We can make realistic models about the chaperoning and trafficking of steroid receptors, but we don't yet know how these processes occur, we don't know where chaperoning occurs in the cell (e.g. Is it limited to the cytoplasm? Is it a diffuse process or does chaperoning occur in association with structural elements?), and, with the exception of the requirement for hormone binding, we don't know the extent to which the hsp90-based chaperone system impacts on steroid hormone action. It is not yet clear how far the discovery of this hsp90 heterocomplex assembly system will be extended to the development of a general understanding of protein processing in the cell. Because this assembly system is apparently present in all eukaryotic cells, it probably performs an essential function for many proteins. The bacterial homolog of hsp90 is not an essential protein, but hsp90 is essential in eukaryotes, and recent studies indicate that the development of the cell nucleus from prokaryotic progenitors was accompanied by the duplication of genes for hsp90 and hsp70 (698). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated signal transduction

The aryl hydrocarbon (or dioxin) receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) protein that heterodimerizes with the bHLH protein ARNT (aryl hydrocarbon nuclear translocator) forming a complex that binds to xenobiotic regulatory elements in target gene enhancers. Genetic, biochemical, and molecular biology studies have revealed that the AhR mediates the toxic and biological effects of environmentally persistent dioxins and related compounds. Cloning of the receptor and its DNA-binding partner, ARNT, has facilitated detailed efforts to understand the mechanisms of AhR-mediated signal transduction. These studies have determined that this unique receptor consists of several functional domains and belongs to a subfamily of bHLH proteins that share a conserved motif termed the PAS domain. In addition, recent genetic studies have revealed that expression of the AhR is a requirement for proper embryonal development, which appears to be a common function shared by many other bHLH proteins. This review is a summary of recent molecular studies of AhR-mediated gene regulation.

Effect of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzoy-p-dioxin on the hepatic 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity in four rodent species

Temporal and dose-related effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) on hepatic 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity were investigated in young male Hartley guinea pigs, Sprague-Dawley rats, C57Bl/6 mice, DBA/2 mice and Golden Syrian hamsters. Animals were terminated 1, 7, 14, 28, 56 and 112 days after the administration of a single i.p. dose of TCDD. The maximal induction of EROD activity, at doses producing a similar toxic and limited lethal effect in all species/strains, was 42-, 18-, 7- and 3-fold in rats, DBA/2 mice, C57Bl/6 mice and guinea pigs, respectively. No treatment-related induction of EROD activity was observed in hamsters. Generally, maximal induction occurred 1-4 weeks after injection in all species. The guinea pig alone maintained the same magnitude of induction of EROD activity throughout the study. Observed toxic effects, i.e., lethality, loss of body weight gain, liver enlargement and thymic atrophy, did not correlate with the TCDD-induced hepatic EROD activity. The obtained results suggest that the fold induction of cytochrome P450 1A1 activity is not a critical event for the expression of the lethal effect of TCDD in rodents.

Comparative kinetic study of the binding between 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and related ligands with the hepatic Ah receptors from several rodent species

Kinetic analysis of the time course of association of [3H]-2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin with hepatic cytosol from five rodent species gave additional evidence for differences in the properties of the Ah receptor ligand binding subunit between species. A parallel study of the association of six tritiated polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans with hepatic Ah receptor from Wistar rat and C57BL/6 mouse showed that their rank order for kinetic affinity did not correlate with the rank ordering of their toxic potency and may vary according to the source of the Ah receptor.

Species-specific binding of transformed Ah receptor to a dioxin responsive transcriptional enhancer

The Ah receptor (AhR) mediates many, if not all, of the toxic and biological effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD, dioxin) and related halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons. Although wide variations in species sensitivity to these compounds have been observed, numerous biochemical and physiochemical characteristics of the AhR appear similar among species. We have examined the ability of cytosolic AhR, from a variety of species (rat, rabbit, guinea pig, hamster, mouse, cow, sheep, fish, chicken and human), to transform and bind to its cognate DNA recognition sequence, the dioxin responsive enhancer (DRE), to evaluate the importance of these events in species variations in TCDD responsiveness. Gel retardation analysis using a murine DRE oligonucleotide has revealed that cytosolic AhR from a wide variety of species can transform in vitro and bind to the DRE and demonstrates that all of the factors necessary for AhR transformation and DNA binding are present in cytosol. In addition, DNA-binding analysis using a series of mutant DRE oligonucleotides has indicated no apparent species- or ligand-dependent, nucleotide-specific difference in AhR binding to the DRE. These studies support a highly conserved nature of the DRE and AhR (at least in DNA binding) and imply that a sequence closely related to the murine consensus DRE sequence is responsible for conferring AhR-dependent, TCDD responsiveness in each of these species.

Effects of ligand structure on the in vitro transformation of the rat cytosolic aryl hydrocarbon receptor

Incubation of radiolabeled, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF),1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin(PeCDD), 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran (PeCDF), 1,2,7,8-TCDF, and 2,3,7-trichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TrCDD) with rat hepatic cytosol for 2 h at 0 degrees C gave liganded aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor complexes which were indistinguishable as determined by velocity sedimentation analysis and DNA-Sepharose column chromatography. Incubation of the cytosol plus the different radioligands for 2 h at 20 degrees C resulted in the formation of Ah receptor complexes which exhibited increased retention times on DNA-Sepharose columns. It was apparent that the amount of specifically bound Ah receptor complex or the levels of the transformed Ah receptor complex which eluted from the column with 0.2-0.3 M salt were dependent on the structure of the radioligand. For example, after incubation for 2 h at 20 degrees C the overall yields of the specifically bound transformed Ah receptor complex were 3.4, 2.0, 1.2, 1.9, 0.3, and 0.1%, respectively, using 2,3,7,8-TCDD, 2,3,7,8-TCDF, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF, 1,2,7,8-TCDF, and 2,3,7,8-TrCDD as radioligands. A more quantitative measure of the structure-dependent transformation of the liganded cytosolic Ah receptor complex was determined using a gel retardation assay with a consensus synthetic dioxin-responsive element (DRE) (26-mer, duplex). The EC50 values obtained for the concentration-dependent formation of the retarded DRE-Ah receptor complex using 2,3,7,8-TCDD, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD, 2,3,7,8-TCDF, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF, 2,3,7-TrCDD, and 1,2,7,8-TCDF as ligands were 0.26, 0.35, 0.78, 1.75, 27.0, and 220 nM, respectively. The structure-dependent differences in these values were similar to their different potencies as Ah receptor agonists and these data suggest that the structure-dependent transformation of the liganded cytosolic Ah receptor may significantly contribute to the structure-activity relationships observed for 2,3,7,8-TCDD and related compounds.

Polychlorinated biphenyls in the environment

This review surveys the problems arising from the release of PCBs into the environment from the point of view of the analytical chemist. These problems are very complex and interdependent and so it is essential to recognize their mutual links rather than to separate one problem from another (sources of contamination, fate in the environment, toxic properties and particular capabilities, limitations and purposes of analytical methods). Prominent attention should be paid in the future to congener-specific analyses of "toxic" congeners using high-resolution gas chromatography and to toxicity-assessing biological methods.

Heterogeneity of rat hepatic Ah receptor: identification of two receptor forms which differ in their biochemical properties

In cytosol, the rat hepatic Ah receptor (AhR) appears to exist in two distinct forms (AhR alpha, AhR beta) in similar concentration. The binding of ligand (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)) to AhR alpha requires the receptor be in its oligomeric 8-10 to S conformation (bound to other protein subunits), while ligand binding to AhR beta can occur with the dissociated 5-6 S form. Occupancy of AhR alpha by ligand (TCDD) protects it from salt-dependent inactivation; AhR beta is not inactivated by high salt conditions. The addition of molybdate to cytosol during tissue homogenization stabilized AhR alpha against salt-dependent inactivation and subunit dissociation but did not prevent dissociation of AhR beta by high salt. Although the presence of molybdate appears to stabilize AhR alpha in its oligomeric 8-10 S, it had no significant effect on the overall amount of TCDD:AhR complex which bound to its specific DNA recognition site, the dioxin responsive element (DRE). These results suggest that AhR alpha, unlike AhR beta, is either unable to transform or bind to the DRE with high affinity.

Comparison of the nuclear and cytosolic forms of the Ah receptor from Hepa 1c1c7 cells: charge heterogeneity and ATP binding properties

2-[125I]iodo-7,8-dibromo-p-dioxin ([125I]Br2DpD) and 2-[125I]iodo-3-azido-7,8-dibromo-p-dioxin ([125I]N3Br2-DpD) are both capable of binding to the Ah receptor (AhR) with a high degree of specificity in cultured Hepa 1c1c7 cells. After incubation with either [125I]N3Br2DpD or [125I]Br2DpD Hepa 1c1c7 cytosolic and high salt nuclear extracts were analyzed by sucrose density gradient analysis with the following results: (i) With both radioligands an approximately 9 S form of the AhR was observed in cytosolic extracts. (ii) Nuclear extracts labeled with [125I]N3Br2DpD revealed both approximately 6 S and approximately 9 S forms of the AhR. (iii) In contrast, analysis of nuclear extracts labeled with [125I]Br2DpD revealed only an approximately 6 S form of the AhR. The approximately 9 S [125I]N3Br2DpD-labeled AhR was preferentially extracted with 100 mM KCl from a nuclear fraction and mixed with monoclonal antibody 8D3, an anti-90-kDa heat shock protein antibody. Monoclonal antibody 8D3 was able to bind to the approximately 9 S nuclear form of the AhR and caused the receptor to sediment as a heavier complex on sucrose density gradients. This would indicate that the AhR can reside in the nucleus bound to 90-kDa heat shock protein. The [125I]N3Br2DpD-labeled approximately 6 S peak fractions were collected and subjected to denaturing two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. A comparison of [125I]N3Br2DpD-labeled cytosolic (9 S) AhR preparations with the nuclear (6 S) AhR by 2-D gel electrophoresis was performed. The cytosolic form of the AhR was present in the apparent pI range of 5.2-5.7; the nuclear form focused between 5.5 and 6.2. The [125I]N3Br2DpD-labeled nuclear extracts were incubated with ATP-agarose and 43% of the photoaffinity-labeled AhR bound to the affinity gel. In contrast, approximately threefold lower binding of [125I]N3Br2DpD-labeled receptor was obtained when GTP-, AMP-, or ADP-agarose was used. Only 2% of the [125I]N3Br2DpD-labeled cytosolic AhR was able to bind to ATP-agarose. These results suggest that after the AhR translocates into the nucleus the following biochemical changes occur: (i) The sedimentation value for the AhR changes from an approximately 9 S to an approximately 6 S species. (ii) The AhR attains the ability to bind with specificity to ATP. (iii) The AhR undergoes a shift to a more basic pI.

Detection of the Ah receptor in rainbow trout: use of 2-azido-3-[125I]iodo-7,8-dibromodibenzo-p-dioxin in cell culture

The Ah receptor was detected in RTG-2 cells (rainbow trout embryonic gonad cells) following the addition of the photoaffinity ligand, [125I]2-azido-3-iodo-7,8-dibromodibenzo-p-dioxin, to cells in culture. Cytosolic and nuclear extracts were prepared and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and revealed one radiolabeled band. Very little non-specific binding was observed under the conditions employed when compared to photoaffinity labeling RTG-2 cytosolic extracts in vitro. The photoaffinity-labeled Ah receptor in RTG-2 cytosol was analyzed by sucrose density centrifugation. The cytosolic form was observed to sediment at approximately 9.8S and the high salt nuclear extract form at approximately 7.5S. The relative molecular weight of the Ah receptor was determined to be 145 kDa under denaturing conditions and is considerably larger than the Ah receptor from mammalian sources. Inhibition of photoaffinity ligand binding to the RTG-2 cytosolic Ah receptor by competing ligands revealed the same rank order of ligand affinity as that previously demonstrated for the mouse Ah receptor.

The Ah receptor and the mechanism of dioxin toxicity

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Characterization of the interaction of transformed rat hepatic cytosolic Ah receptor with a dioxin responsive transcriptional enhancer

Many of the biological and toxic effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD, dioxin), a highly toxic environmental contaminant, are mediated by a soluble intracellular protein (the Ah receptor (AhR)). Following a poorly defined process of transformation, during which the TCDD:AhR complex acquires the ability to bind to DNA with high affinity, TCDD:AhR complexes activate gene transcription by binding to dioxin responsive enhancers (DREs) adjacent to the responsive gene. Here we have utilized gel retardation analysis to study the interaction of rat hepatic cytosolic TCDD:AhR complexes, transformed in vitro, with dioxin responsive enhancer DNA. Cytosol contains a protein(s) that binds to the DRE in a TCDD-inducible, sequence-specific, time- and temperature-dependent manner and exhibits AhR ligand binding specificity. These results imply that this inducible protein-DNA complex represents the binding of liganded:AhR complex to the DRE. The TCDD:AhR complex bound to the DRE with an equilibrium dissociation constant of 1.2 +/- 0.1 nM, an affinity at least 3800-fold stronger than that for binding to nonspecific DNA. Assuming one DNA binding site per AhR molecule, the total concentration of transformed AhR in these studies was approximately 56.1 +/- 6.6 fmol/mg protein (representing transformation of 45% of the total amount of AhR present in the same cytosolic preparations). Inhibition of AhR transformation, but not ligand or DNA binding, by EDTA and EGTA suggests that a chelatable divalent cation(s) may play a critical role in the transformation process.