Interaction of rat prostate androgen receptors with polynucleotides, RNA, DNA and cloned DNA fragments

Androgen receptor-binding regions of an androgen-responsive gene

The interaction of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone-receptor complexes with purified DNA fragments representing upstream, coding and intervening sequences of the prostate binding protein C3(1) gene was investigated using a DNA-cellulose competition binding assay. The partially purified androgen-receptor complexes which were used in the assay had proven DNA-binding capabilities. Two fragments were identified with relatively high affinity for androgen-receptor complexes. A 300 bp fragment extending from -220 to +80 and a 500 bp fragment derived entirely from the first intron consistently competed most effectively in the system. The presence of a high affinity site or sites in or near the promoter region of the gene is consistent with current models of transcriptional activation of hormone-responsive genes by steroid receptors. High affinity sites for steroid receptors within introns may indicate a role for receptors in regulation of transcription at other stages, or in post-transcriptional modification.

Chemical demonstration of nuclear androgen receptor following affinity chromatography with immobilized ligands

With increasing purification of the androgen receptor from nuclei of rat ventral prostate, a receptor-like protein could be demonstrated by chemical staining with silver nitrate. After sonication and digestion of nuclei with micrococcal nuclease, the solubilized receptor was applied to a column of Matrex Gel Green A and eluted with a linear gradient of 0-2 M NaCl. Characterized by specific binding of dihydrotestosterone, this form of the receptor was also androgen dependent and yielded an apparent Mr of 33,000 when analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver nitrate staining. To facilitate recovery following chromatography, the receptor was precipitated with 0-40% ammonium sulfate. Analysis of the 15-fold enriched fraction by sucrose density-gradient centrifugation confirmed the presence of a 3S androgen-binding protein. About 200 ng of the precipitated protein was applied to a column of dihydrotestosterone-17 beta-succinyl agarose (ligand concentration, 0.25 mumol/ml). The fractions eluted with 50 microM dihydrotestosterone were electrophoresed and stained as before; again, the presence of a 33,000 Mr protein sensitive to castration was demonstrated. Alternatively, when the precipitated protein was fractionated by fast protein liquid chromatography utilizing a Superose 12 HR 10/30 column, the receptor coeluted with nuclear proteins in the 29,000-36,000 Mr range as determined both by retention time and electrophoresis. In combination, the above methods may be used to obtain a receptor protein purified to near homogeneity with a yield of 5-10%. The amount of receptor afforded by the purification sequence is small but nevertheless sufficient for chemical detection. We anticipate that with modification, the procedures may prove suitable for the recovery of nuclear androgen receptor on a preparative scale.

Studies with chymotrypsin and RNAase showing a heterooligomeric structure of the glucocorticoid receptor complex from rat liver which is stabilized by a low molecular weight factor

The glucocorticoid receptor from rat liver displays a differential sensitivity toward digestion by chymotrypsin and RNAase A that is dependent on its activation state. Unactivated (9-10 S) receptor is not digested by these enzymes, while activated 7-8 S receptor is. Chymotrypsin treatment yields an approx. 3 S form, while RNAase treatment yields a 4.9 S form that is distinct from the high-salt 4 S form. To firmly establish that the results are due to specific hydrolytic activities of the particular enzymes, we show that the chymotrypsin effect is inhibited by diisopropylfluorophosphate and not RNAasin, while the reverse is true for RNAase A. We further show that the differential sensitivity toward chymotrypsin is due to the association of a proteinase-resistant, heat-stable low molecular weight factor with the unactivated glucocorticoid receptor. When this factor is removed by warming, dialysis or molecular sieving of the receptor complex, the complex becomes sensitive to chymotrypsin. We also show that moderate chymotrypsin treatment yields a 6-7 S form of the receptor which is composed of, at least, RNA and the 4 S receptor. On the basis of these results, we propose that the 9-10 S receptor is composed of a low molecular weight stabilizing factor whose presence apparently alters the conformation of the complex such that the RNA and the RNA-binding site of the receptor are protected, a chymotrypsin-sensitive factor, RNA and the 4 S receptor itself.

Ribonuclease-induced transformation of progesterone receptor from rabbit uterus

The effect of RNase on the transformation of progesterone receptor from rabbit uterus was studied by density-gradient centrifugation and DNA-cellulose binding assay. The 7S form of the receptor in crude cytosol was RNase sensitive, and converted to the 4S form after RNase treatment. This reaction was prevented by an RNase inhibitor and reversed by the addition of ribosomal RNA. RNase treatment also caused a two-fold increase in the DNA binding of cytosolic receptor, and reduced the time required for heat-induced transformation. However, sucrose-gradient-purified progesterone receptor (7S) did not undergo transformation by warming unless exogenous RNase was added, thereby suggesting that a cytosolic factor, which might be endogenous RNase, is necessary for the heat-induced transformation of progesterone receptor. Furthermore, degradation of the receptors which occurred after prolonged warming at 25 degrees C in the presence of RNase could be prevented by the addition of DNA-cellulose to the reaction mixture. These results indicate that RNA is associated with the 7S form of progesterone receptor, and that its hydrolysis by RNase might be involved in the transformation of this receptor.

Correlations between prostate chromatin structure and transcriptional activity and acceptor site distribution

Androgen-receptor complexes are intimately involved in the maintenance of rat ventral prostate chromatin in a transcriptionally active structure. The presence or absence of androgens influenced the quantity of transcriptionally active chromatin and the distribution of acceptor sites for androgen-receptor complexes as probed by endonucleolytic cleavage. After castration, changes in the sedimentation rates of nucleosome oligomers were consistent with the absence of androgen-receptor complexes and elongating polyribonucleotide chains. These changes were accompanied by decreases in the ability of chromatin released under conditions of minimal nuclease digestion to bind androgen-receptor complexes and to support incorporation of RNA precursors responsive to androgenic stimulation. Saturation analyses of chromatin and nuclear fractions with partially purified androgen-receptor complexes revealed two affinity classes of acceptor sites. After castration, alterations in the intrachromatin distribution of acceptor sites were consistent with their redeployment into areas of decreased nuclease sensitivity, as previously shown for androgen-responsive genes.

Chymotrypsin treatment of glucocorticoid receptor attenuates RNA-dependent inhibition of DNA binding. Evidence for a distinct RNA-binding site

Certain types of RNA can prevent the association of the rat liver glucocorticoid receptor with DNA. This inhibition of receptor binding to DNA cannot be mitigated by increasing amounts of DNA, suggesting that the RNA is not merely acting as a competitive inhibitor. Treatment of partially purified receptor with low concentrations of chymotrypsin eliminates the inhibitory effects of some RNAs without negatively affecting the DNA-binding ability of the receptor. Potent inhibitors of the receptor-DNA association, such as poly(G) and poly(X), still inhibit DNA binding of the treated receptor, although to a lesser extent than the untreated controls. However, moderate inhibitors, such as tRNA and poly(U), no longer inhibit the receptor-DNA association at low concentrations. We take these findings to suggest that RNA inhibition of DNA binding is due to the interaction of the RNA at a distinct RNA-binding site. This site may serve as a regulator site for the receptor-DNA association.

Photoaffinity labelling of androgen receptors with 17 beta-hydroxy-17 alpha-[3H]methyl-4,9,11-estratrien-3-one

The synthetic androgen 17 beta-hydroxy-17 alpha-[3H]methyl-4,9,11-estratrien-3-one (R1881) has been used as photoaffinity label to characterize androgen receptors in calf uterus and rat prostate. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions showed that the DNA-binding form of the androgen receptor in calf uterus cytosol is a protein with a molecular mass of 98 kD. In rat prostate cytosol an androgen receptor with a molecular mass of 46 kD could be photoaffinity labelled with R1881. The photoaffinity labelling procedure described here provides a method for studying the hormone binding domain of androgen receptors in partial purified preparations.