Chemical cross-linking of heteromeric glucocorticoid receptors

A chemical cross-linking method for the analysis of binding partners of heat shock protein-90 in intact cells

Members of the heat shock protein-90 (Hsp90) family are key regulators of biological processes through dynamic interaction with a multitude of protein partners. However, the transient nature of these interactions hinders the identification of Hsp90 interactors. Here we show that chemical cross-linking with ethylene glycolbis (succinimidylsuccinate), but not shorter cross-linkers, generated an abundant 240-kDa heteroconjugate of the molecular chaperone Hsp90 in different cell types. The combined use of pharmacological and genetic approaches allowed the characterization of the subunit composition and subcellular compartmentalization of the multimeric protein complex, termed p240. The in situ formation of p240 did not require the N-terminal domain or the ATPase activity of Hsp90. Utilizing subcellular fractionation techniques and a cell-impermeant cross-linker, subpopulations of p240 were found to be present in both the plasma membrane and the mitochondria. The Hsp90-interacting proteins, including Hsp70, p60Hop and the scaffolding protein filamin A, had no role in governing the formation of p240. Therefore, chemical cross-linking combined with proteomic methods has the potential to unravel the protein components of this p240 complex and, more importantly, may provide an approach to expand the range of tools available to the study of the Hsp90 interactome.

Proteins which mediate the nuclear entry of goat uterine non activated estrogen receptor (naER) following naER internalization from the plasma membrane

The nuclear transport of the internalised naER is influenced by a 58 kDa protein, p58, that appears to recognize the nuclear localization signals on the naER. At the nuclear pore complex the naER-p58 complex binds to a 62 kDa protein, p62; p58 recognizes p62 in this interaction. It is further observed that p62 gets 'docked' at a 66 kDa nuclear pore complex protein, npcp66. The nuclear entry of naER is an ATP-dependent process. An ATP-dependent biphasic nuclear entry of naER, has been observed. It is possible that the docking of p58-naER complex at the nuclear pore complex and the eventual nuclear entry of naER following its dissociation from the p58 are influenced by two different ranges in the concentration of ATP. In this process, it appears that, the nuclear entry requires an additional quantum of energy, provided by the hydrolysed ATP, in contrast to the energy requirement associated with, the nuclear 'docking' event.

The function of steroid hormone receptors is inhibited by the hsp90-specific compound geldanamycin

The ansamycin antibiotic geldanamycin, which specifically interacts with the heat shock protein hsp90, was used to study the function of hsp90 in steroid hormone receptors. We observed inhibition of glucocorticoid-specific gene induction in several responsive cell systems. Hormone binding abilities of receptors for glucocorticoid, progestin, androgen, and estrogen were inhibited upon exposing intact cells to geldanamycin. Inhibition was only seen when geldanamycin was applied to cell cultures under growth conditions or was present during in vitro synthesis; presynthesized receptors in cell extracts were not affected. Upon withdrawal of geldanamycin, glucocorticoid binding ability was regained; this was partially independent of de novo protein synthesis. Geldanamycin caused decreased levels of immunoreactive glucocorticoid receptors in wild-type cells with enhanced degradation occurring through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Analysis of receptors from treated cells revealed a heteromeric structure of normal size in which the receptor polypeptide is complexed with normal amounts of hsp90 and the immunophilin p59. These data support the view that hsp90 actively participates in steroid-induced signal transduction, and they suggest that geldanamycin affects receptor action without disrupting hsp90-containing heterocomplexes per se. Nevertheless, complexes synthesized and assembled in vitro in the presence of geldanamycin differ from receptors of cellular origin.

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)

Binding and internalization of extracellular type-I phospholipase A2 in uterine stromal cells

The cellular uptake of extracellular type-I phospholipase A2 (PLA2) was investigated in rat uterine stromal cells (UIII) in culture, which were found to express the high-affinity binding site for mammalian type-I PLA2, with a measured KD of 6.4 nM, a Bmax of 0.1-1 pmol/mg of DNA at 4 degrees C, and a molecular mass of about 200 kDa. When UIII cells were treated with type-I PLA2 at 37 degrees C, the ligand specifically associated with the cells increased, reaching a plateau after 90 min of incubation, whose level was about 5-fold higher than that measured if cells were maintained at 4 degrees C. We could determine that the PLA2 was bound to plasma membrane receptors which were responsible for internalization of the ligand, and that the binding sites were still suitable for binding at the level of plasma membrane during UIII cell incubation at 37 degrees C. Proteolysis of internalized PLA2 could be clearly detected only after 90 min of UIII cell incubation with the ligand at 37 degrees C, and most of the intracellular PLA2 consisted of the apparently intact 14 kDa enzyme. By cross-linking studies, we found that most of the internalized PLA2 was not associated with the receptor, supporting the conclusion that in our experimental system a single pool of membrane receptors for mammalian type-I PLA2 undergoes cycles of ligand binding, intracellular transfer and release of PLA2, followed by restoration of binding sites on the plasma membrane. We calculated that the rate of internalization of the ligand by one receptor molecule in UIII cells at 37 degrees C is about three molecules of type-I PLA2 per h.

Agonist-free transformation of the glucocorticoid receptor in human B-lymphoma cells

Nuclear translocation of activated glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) is a necessary step in the signal transduction by these GC hormones. Although in vitro activation of GRs can occur in the absence of a functional ligand, it is generally assumed that binding of a cognate hormone is required for activation of the intracellular GR. By indirect immunocytochemistry and Western-blot analysis, it was found that, in spontaneously aggregated human lymphoma DoHH2 cells, hormone-free GRs are located in the nucleus. Disruption of the aggregates redistributed GRs to a predominantly cytosolic location. Upon spontaneous re-aggregation the GR again became localized to the nucleus. Intracellular cross-linking of the heteromeric receptor complex was applied to investigate the protein composition of cytoplasmic and nuclear receptors. Untransformed, cytosolic GRs could be demonstrated by [3H]dexamethasone binding capacity and hsp90 co-immunoprecipitation, whereas absence of these characteristics suggested an activated conformation of the nuclear GRs. These observations suggest that cell-cell interactions are capable of transforming GRs in the absence of a ligand.

Molecular chaperoning of steroid hormone receptors

The study of the large, unactivated form of steroid receptors has led to the discovery of an hsp90/hsp70-based multicomponent protein folding system(s). For steroid receptors, the hsp90 chaperone system determines both repression of transcriptional activity in the absence of hormone and the proper folding of the hormone binding domain to produce the steroid binding conformation. Like steroid receptors, a number of other regulators of transcription and some protein kinases are now known to be associated with hsp90. Given the abundance of the proteins comprising the hsp90 chaperone system and the apparent ubiquity of the system in the animal and plant kingdoms, this system is thought to serve a fundamental role for protein folding, function and possibly trafficking within the cytoplasm and nucleus. In this chapter, we discuss the work on steroid receptor heterocomplex composition that has led to the discovery of new chaperone proteins and we summarize the mechanistic information developed in cell-free studies of receptor heterocomplex assembly.

A fraction enriched in a novel glucocorticoid receptor-interacting protein stimulates receptor-dependent transcription in vitro

Glucocorticoids influence numerous cell functions by regulating gene activity. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor and, like any other transcription factor, does not modulate gene activity just by binding to DNA. Interaction with other proteins is probably required to enhance the establishment of a functional transcription initiation complex. To identify such proteins, we analyzed the in vitro interaction of the glucocorticoid receptor bound to a double glucocorticoid response element with nuclear proteins and describe here three interacting proteins with different molecular weights. One of them, which we named GRIP 170 (GR-interacting protein), was purified and microsequenced, and it turned out to be an unknown protein. When tested in a cell-free transcription assay, the fraction highly enriched for GRIP 170 does not influence basal promoter activity but does enhance GR induction.

Subunit structure of the nonactivated human estrogen receptor

The nonactivated estrogen receptor of human MCF-7 mammary carcinoma cells was investigated with respect to stoichiometry of protein subunits. The native receptor complex stabilized by molybdate had a molecular mass of approximately 300 kDa. Chemical cross-linking with several bifunctional reagents resulted in complete stabilization of the same receptor form of approximately 300 kDa and was achieved both in cell extracts and in intact cells. Incubation of the cross-linked receptor with a receptor-specific monoclonal IgG1 antibody increased the molecular mass by approximately 135 kDa--i.e., no more than one immunoglobulin molecule bound to the complex. Partial and progressive cross-linking of affinity-labeled receptors revealed patterns of labeled bands upon denaturing gel electrophoresis indicative of a heteromeric structure. The completely cross-linked receptor was purified to homogeneity and analyzed for protein components. In addition to the receptor polypeptide of approximately 65 kDa, we detected the heat shock proteins hsp90 and p59; the hsp90 band was roughly twice as intense as the p59 band. The heat shock protein hsp70 and the 40-kDa cyclophilin were not detected as components of the highly purified cross-linked receptor of approximately 300 kDa. We suggest a heterotetrameric structure consisting of one receptor polypeptide, two hsp90 molecules, and one p59 subunit, for which the molecular mass adds up to approximately 300 kDa. Thus, the nonactivated estrogen receptor has a molecular architecture homologous to those of glucocorticoid and progesterone receptors, even though phylogenetically the estrogen receptor gene forms a distinct subgroup within the gene family of nuclear hormone receptors.

Constitutive expression of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) in neurons of the rat brain

Immunoblot analysis, immunocytochemistry and immuno-electron microscopy were employed to study the expression of HSP90 protein in the adult rat brain, using a specific polyclonal antiserum. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated equal levels of HSP90 in microdissected extracts from hippocampus, cortex, striatum and cerebellum. Immunocytochemistry and immuno-electron microscopy provided evidence that HSP90 is markedly expressed throughout all neuronal subpopulations of the CNS but not in non-neuronal cells except ependyma and choroid plexus. At the ultrastructural level, HSP90 immunoreactivity was predominantly found in perikarya but to a lesser extent also in dendrites and nuclei. The constitutive expression of HSP90 in widespread neuronal cell populations suggests a functional role in the physiological molecular program of CNS neurons.

Nanomolar concentrations of untransformed glucocorticoid receptor in nuclei of intact cells

The subcellular distribution of untransformed glucocorticoid-receptor complex in vivo has been studied by chemical crosslinking of intact cells, and using a procedure adequate for correction of experimental errors due to redistribution of components between cytosolic and nuclear fractions. We found that in HeLa S3 cells 85.4% of total glucocorticoid-receptor complexes are located in nuclei, and 14.6% are cytosolic. If measurements were performed with MCF-7 cells, we determined that the nuclear pool of glucocorticoid-receptor complexes accounts for 75.2% of the total cellular content, whereas the remaining 24.8% are cytosolic. When the subcellular distribution of estrogen-receptor complexes was determined, instead, we found that they are almost exclusively located in nuclei of MCF-7 cells, which contain 88.9% of the total. In order to estimate the molar concentration of receptors in cytosol and nuclei of intact cells, we determined the free water content of the two compartments. The volume of solvent was found to vary in the three cell lines we have studied, and our data showed that these variations are due to the cytosolic fractions, as the free water content of nuclei is essentially the same in those cells. When the free water content and the levels of glucocorticoid-receptor complexes we have measured were used to estimate the molar concentrations of receptors, we found that these range between 0.4 and 18.9 nM in cytosols, and between 3.9 and 6.3 nM in nuclei of the three cell lines we have studied. We then concluded that the relative distribution of untransformed glucocorticoid-receptor complexes between cytosol and nuclei is cell-specific but their molar concentration in the nuclear compartment does not greatly vary among different cells.

High levels of non-activated receptors in glucocorticoid-sensitive S49wt mouse lymphoma cells incubated with dexamethasone

Upon agonist binding the heteromeric glucocorticoid receptor complex undergoes a conformational change (receptor activation). This event involves the dissociation of a dimer of 90 kDa heat shock proteins. Whereas receptor activation in cytosolic assays is both rapid and irreversible, less is known about the receptor activation and translocation in intact cells during challenge with an agonist. In this paper we report on the receptor status of glucocorticoid-sensitive murine S49 lymphoma cells during dexamethasone exposure. By three different assays, ligand (re)binding, nuclear translocation and hsp90 co-immunoprecipitation, it was found that the majority of the glucocorticoid receptor protein was in a non-activated conformation. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to dexamethasone did not result in increased levels of activated receptors. By assessing receptor activation in situ we found that physiological temperature was less effective in dissociating hsp90 compared to room temperature. These findings indicate that the physiological temperature negatively controls receptor activation, probably due to a thermolabile interaction between the hormone and its cognate receptor.

Oligomeric structures of cytosoluble estrogen-receptor complexes as studied by anti-estrogen receptor antibodies and chemical crosslinking of intact cells

The structure of estrogen-receptor complexes recovered in cytosolic extracts of MCF-7 cells treated with hormone at 2 degrees was probed by chemical crosslinking of intact cells and sample analysis with four monoclonal anti-estrogen receptor antibodies. When MCF-7 cells were treated with either glutaraldehyde or dithiobis(succinimidyl propionate), cytosoluble estrogen-receptor complexes consisted of two major forms sedimenting as 4 S monomers and 8-9 S salt-resistant oligomers. By high salt sucrose density gradient centrifugation, we could observe that the four monoclonal anti-estrogen receptor antibodies bound different forms of receptor complexes from crosslinked cells. While H222 and H226 antibodies could interact with any form we detected, the D75 and D547 monoclonals could only recognize those showing sedimentation coefficients lower than 7 S. When cytosolic extracts from [35S]-methionine-labeled cells were subjected to immunoprecipitation with H222 and D75 anti-estrogen receptor antibodies, electrophoretic analysis of material extracted from immunoprecipitates revealed the presence of 65 kDa estrogen receptors. If extracts were prepared from crosslinked cells, instead, two more components with estimated molecular masses of 220 and 100 kDa were specifically immunoprecipitated by the H222 antibody, whereas only the 100 kDa component and the estrogen receptor were found in immunoprecipitates obtained with the D75 monoclonal. When estrogen-receptor complexes were immunopurified from extracts prepared after cells had been crosslinked with dithiobis(succinimidyl propionate), and the oligomers were dissociated by treatment with beta-mercaptoethanol, electrophoretic analysis of our samples showed that only the 65 kDa estrogen receptor and a 50 kDa protein were selectively immunoprecipitated by anti-estrogen receptor antibodies. We concluded that the structures of cytosoluble estrogen-receptor complexes in MCF-7 cells treated with hormone at 2 degrees C, include oligomeric forms which contain a 50 kDa non-steroid binding protein.

The structure of glucocorticoid receptors

The glucocorticoid receptor of mouse thymic lymphoma cells was investigated. The receptor-hormone complex in cytosolic extracts has a Stokes' radius of 82 A and Mw approximately 330 kDa. In the presence of salt at high concentrations, however, the receptor-complex has a Stokes' radius of 60 A and Mw approximately 120 kDa. This receptor form is able to interact with DNA. Chemical cross-linking was used to stabilize the high molecular weight receptor structure against subunit dissociation and this was found to prevent receptor activation to DNA binding. The affinity labeled receptor was submitted to progressive cross-linking and the intermediate cross-linked forms were analyzed. This led to the conclusion that the high molecular weight receptor structure is a hetero-tetramer consisting of one receptor polypeptide of approximately 100 kDa, two molecules of the 90 kDa heat shock protein hsp90 and an additional protein subunit. The latter was unequivocally identified by immunochemical techniques as the 59 kDa protein p59. The 70 kDa heat shock protein was found not to be a bona fide receptor component but was a contaminant of our immunopurification procedure. Cross-linking studies also showed that the receptor exists in the high molecular weight form in intact cells and in the absence of hormone.

Heterotetrameric structure of the human progesterone receptor

Nonactivated progesterone receptors in extracts of human T47D mammary carcinoma cells were investigated. Chemical cross-linking with dimethyl suberimidate resulted in complete stabilization of the A and B receptors with an average molecular mass of 340 kDa. For analyzing the subunit structure, we concentrated on the larger B receptor, which was separated from the A form by immunoaffinity chromatography. Progressive cross-linking of the photoaffinity-labeled receptor resulted in patterns of labeled bands in SDS gels, which are indicative of a heterotetrameric structure. It consists of one receptor polypeptide in association with two 90-kDa subunits and one polypeptide of approximately 60 kDa. The completely cross-linked B receptor has a molecular mass of approximately 390 kDa. To identify the subunits, the oligomeric B receptor was cross-linked with a cleavable bisimidate, highly purified by immunoaffinity chromatography, and analyzed by gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. The receptor polypeptide has a mass of 116.5 kDa. The 90-kDa band was identified as the heat shock protein hsp90 and was roughly twice as intense as the receptor polypeptide. By use of specific antibodies, we identified the fourth receptor subunit as a 59-kDa protein (p59); we did not obtain any evidence for the heat shock protein hsp70 being a receptor component. We suggest an analogous heterotetrameric structure for the nonactivated A receptor.

A model of glucocorticoid receptor unfolding and stabilization by a heat shock protein complex

It has recently been reported that incubation of avian progesterone receptors, mouse glucocorticoid receptors, or the viral tyrosine kinase pp60src with rabbit reticulocyte lysate reconstitutes their association with the 90 kDa heat shock protein, hsp90. The reassociation is thought to require unfolding of the steroid receptor or pp60src before hsp90 can bind. The unfoldase activity may be provided by hsp70, which is also present in the reconstituted receptor heterocomplex. In this paper we review evidence that hsp70 and hsp90 are associated in cytosolic heterocomplexes that contain a limited number of other proteins. From an analysis of known receptor-hsp interactions and a predicted direct interaction between hsp90 and hsp70 we have developed an admittedly very speculative model of glucocorticoid receptor unfolding and stabilization. One important feature of the model is that the receptor becomes attached to a heat shock protein heterocomplex rather than undergoing independent unfolding and stabilization events. The model requires that hsp70 and hsp90 bind directly to the receptor at independent sites. Importantly, the model accommodates the stoichiometry of 2 hsp90 per 1 molecule of receptor that has been assayed in the untransformed GR heterocomplex in cytosols prepared from hormone-free cells.

Subunit composition of the untransformed glucocorticoid receptor in the cytosol and in the cell

We have used bifunctional reagents to examine the subunit composition of the non-DNA-binding form of the rat and human glucocorticoid receptor. Treatment of intact cells and cell extracts with a reversible cross-linker, followed by electrophoretic analysis of immunoadsorbed receptor revealed that three proteins of apparent approximate molecular masses, 90, 53 and 14 kDa are associated with the receptor. The first of these was identified immunochemically as a 90-kDa heat-shock protein (hsp90). The complex isolated from HeLa cells contained 2.2 mol hsp90/mol steroid-binding subunit. Cross-linking of the receptor complex in the cytosol completely prevented salt-induced dissociation of the subunits. The cross-linked receptor was electrophoretically resolved into two oligomeric complexes of apparent molecular mass 288 kDa and 347 kDa, reflecting the association of the 53-kDa protein with a fraction of the receptor. Since no higher oligomeric complexes could be generated by cross-linking cell extracts under different conditions, we conclude that most of the untransformed cytosolic receptor is devoid of additional components.

Detection of glucocorticoid-receptor complex oligomers in nuclear extracts from cells exposed to hormone at physiological temperature

When HeLa cells were incubated with tritiated dexamethasone mesylate at 2 degrees C, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of cytosolic and nuclear extracts revealed the presence of two monomeric receptor complex forms with estimated molecular masses of about 98 and 87 kDa. If cells were subjected to crosslinking with glutaraldehyde, a third form consisting of a 250 kDa oligomer was also detected. When HeLa cells were treated with dexamethasone mesylate at 37 degrees C, and were subjected to crosslinking, electrophoresis of cytosolic glucocorticoid-receptor complexes was drastically reduced, whereas their levels in nuclear extracts were not appreciably altered.

Subunit structure of the glucocorticoid receptor and activation to the DNA-binding state

Glucocorticoid receptors of S49.1 mouse lymphoma cells were analyzed under a variety of conditions. The complexes with an agonist or a steroidal antagonist can be formed in cytosolic extracts, they are of high molecular weight, Mr approximately 330,000 and have a Stokes radius of 82 A. Cross-linking by several agents stabilized this structure against subunit dissociation which produces the activated receptor form of 60 A and DNA-binding ability. Careful analysis of intermediate cross-linked forms lead to the conclusion that the large receptor structure is a hetero-tetramer consisting of one hormone-bearing polypeptide of Mr approximately 94,000, two 90 kDa subunits and a protein component of Mr approximately 50,000. The 90 kDa subunits are the heat shock protein hsp90. The high molecular weight receptor form also exists in intact cells as revealed again by cross-linking. The cytosolic complex with the antagonist can become activated to the DNA-binding form upon warming but simultaneously looses the ligand. Ligand rebinding does not occur subsequent to receptor dissociation. Upon incubation of intact cells at 37 degrees C with agonist or antagonist the respective receptor-ligand complexes are formed. The agonist complex is immediately activated, however, the antagonist complex remains stable in the undissociated state. This explains the biological effect of the antagonist.

Estradiol increases phosphorylation of the 90 kDa heat shock protein not associated with estradiol receptor in MCF-7 cells in culture

MCF-7 cells in monolayer culture were incubated with [32P]orthophosphate for 18 h followed by covalent whole cell labelling of the estradiol receptor with tritiated tamoxifen aziridine [( 3H]TA). The heat shock protein (hsp-90) bound to receptor was precipitated with monoclonal antibodies H222 or JS 34/32, coupled to protein A-Sepharose and purified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under reducing conditions. Hsp-90 not associated with receptor was similarly purified after isolation with the monoclonal antibody AC88. It was found that estradiol treatment of the cells markedly increased phosphate incorporation in the free hsp-90, without affecting heat shock protein bound to receptor. A 6-fold increase in phosphate content was observed after 10 min incubation of the cells with estradiol. A similar effect was seen after treatment of the cells with the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). The calcium ionophore A23187 had no influence on hsp-90 phosphorylation, and treatment of the cells with forskolin to increase the cellular content of cAMP had a reverse effect. A 50% reduction of the phosphate content in the free hsp-90 was observed after 15 min treatment. The observation that estradiol, TPA and forskolin had effect only on hsp-90 not bound to receptor is an indication that the receptor-hsp-90 complex exists in vivo. Time course studies show that the effect of estradiol is non-genomic. Two possible explanations of the results seem to exist. Either estradiol induces an increase in the degree of phosphorylation of hsp-90, or hsp-90 is translocated to the cytosol from a different cellular compartment.

Transformation of glucocorticoid-receptor complexes is accompanied by dissociation of oligomers in intact cells

The association of glucocorticoid-receptor complexes with other components in vivo has been evaluated by chemical crosslinking of hormone-treated cells. When cells were incubated with hormone at 2 degrees C, before being subjected to crosslinking, most glucocorticoid-receptor complexes were found untransformed, as judged by DEAE-cellulose chromatography, and sedimented as 11-6 S oligomers in sucrose gradients containing 0.3 M NaCl. If crosslinking was performed after cells were treated with hormone at 37 degrees C, about 60% of cytosolic glucocorticoid-receptor complexes were found transformed, and sedimented as 4 S monomers.

An aprotinin binding site localized in the hormone binding domain of the estrogen receptor from calf uterus

It has been proposed that the estrogen receptor bears proteolytic activity responsible for its own transformation. This activity was inhibited by aprotinin. Incubation of transformed ER with aprotinin modified the proteolytic digestion of the hormone binding subunit by proteinase K. The smallest hormone-binding fragment of the ER, obtained by tryptic digestion, was still able to bind to aprotinin. These results suggest that aprotinin interacts with ER and the hormone-binding domain of ER is endowed with a specific aprotinin-binding site.

The 56-59-kilodalton protein identified in untransformed steroid receptor complexes is a unique protein that exists in cytosol in a complex with both the 70- and 90-kilodalton heat shock proteins

It has previously been shown that 9S, untransformed progestin, estrogen, androgen, and glucocorticoid receptor complexes in rabbit uterine and liver cytosols contain a 59-kDa protein [Tai, P. K., Maeda, Y., Nakao, K., Wakim, N. G., Duhring, J. L., & Faber, L. E. (1986) Biochemistry 25, 5269-5275]. In this work we show that the monoclonal antibody KN 382/EC1 raised against the rabbit 59-kDa protein reacts with 9S, untransformed glucocorticoid receptor complexes in cytosol prepared from human IM-9 lymphocytes but not with 4S salt-transformed receptors. The human protein recognized by the EC1 antibody is a 56-kDa protein (p56) of moderate abundance located predominantly in the cytoplasm by indirect immunofluorescence. There are at least six isomorphs of p56 by two-dimensional gel analysis. N-Terminal sequencing (20 amino acids) shows that p56 is a unique human protein. When p56 is immunoadsorbed from IM-9 cell cytosol, both the 70- and 90-kDa heat shock proteins are coadsorbed in an immune-specific manner. Neither heat shock protein reacts directly with the EC1 antibody. We conclude that p56 exists in cytosol in a higher order complex containing hsp70 and hsp90, both of which in turn have been found to be associated with untransformed steroid receptors.

Glucocorticoid receptor binding to calf thymus DNA. 1. Identification and characterization of a macromolecular factor involved in receptor-steroid complex binding to DNA

Activation of receptor-steroid complexes to a form with high affinity for DNA is a poorly understood process involving multiple components in addition to the holoreceptor. Employing rat HTC cells as the source of glucocorticoid receptor, we show that maximal receptor binding to calf thymus DNA is mediated by a previously unknown small molecular weight factor. This factor can be removed from cytosolic preparations of receptor by gel filtration chromatography. Salt extraction of crude nuclear pellets afforded much larger amounts of a similar DNA-binding activity factor. The cytoplasmic factor and the more abundant nuclear factor were identical on the basis of their similar physical properties. The factor was precipitable in the crude state with (NH4)2SO4 and stable to heat as well as freezing and thawing. Chromatography on DNA-cellulose revealed that the factor itself did not bind to DNA. The factor could be filtered through a Centricon C-3 microconcentrator (molecular weight cutoff approximately 3000) but was excluded from Sephadex G-10 columns. These parameters enable us to determine an apparent molecular weight of 700-3000 for this factor. The presence of large amounts of this factor in nuclei accounts for the previously unexplained observation that, following size exclusion chromatography, more activated complexes bind to nuclei than to DNA. These data indicate that some, but not all, of the activated complexes require factor to be able to bind to DNA. The predominantly nuclear localization of this factor, coupled with its ability to increase DNA binding, attests to the biological relevance of this factor in the whole cell action of receptor-glucocorticoid complexes.

Aprotinin inhibits the hormone binding of the estrogen receptor from calf uterus

Micromolar concentrations of the proteinase inhibitor, aprotinin, produced a dose-dependent inhibition in the binding capacity of the estrogen receptor from calf uterus. Aprotinin inhibition was greater at 28 degrees C than at 4 degrees C and only occurred when conditions allowed the receptor transformation. When aprotinin was tested in the presence of transformation inhibitors, its effect was no longer seen. The binding capacity of the highly purified estrogen-binding subunit was similarly inhibited.

Characterization of the Ah receptor for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin: use of chemical crosslinking and a monoclonal antibody directed against a 59-kDa protein associated with steroid receptors

The Ah receptor regulates induction of cytochrome P450IA1 (aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase) by "3-methylcholanthrene-type" compounds and mediates the toxic effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and related halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons. Hepatic Ah receptor from untreated rodents is localized in the cytosol and has an apparent molecular mass of 250 to 300 kDa. This large form can be dissociated into a smaller ligand-binding subunit upon exposure to high ionic strength. The Ah receptor displays many structural similarities to the receptors for steroid hormones. Two non-ligand-binding proteins have been identified to be associated with the cytosolic forms of the steroid hormone receptors. The first is a 90-kDa heat shock protein (hsp 90); the second is a 59-kDa protein (p59) of unknown function. The cytosolic Ah receptor ligand-binding subunit previously has been shown to be associated with hsp 90. In the present study, we used a monoclonal antibody, KN 382/EC1, generated against the 59-kDa protein which is associated with rabbit steroid receptors to determine if p59 also is a component of the large cytosolic Ah receptor complex. Cytosolic forms of rabbit progesterone receptor, glucocorticoid receptor, and Ah receptor were analyzed by velocity sedimentation on sucrose gradients under low-ionic-strength conditions and in the presence of molybdate. Progesterone receptor from rabbit uterine cytosol and glucocorticoid receptor from rabbit liver each had a sedimentation coefficient of approximately 9 S. In the presence of KN 382/EC1 antibody the progesterone receptor and the glucocorticoid receptor both underwent a shift in sedimentation to a value of approximately 11 S. The increase in sedimentation velocity is an indication that the receptor-protein complexes are interacting with the antibody. Under low-ionic-strength conditions the Ah receptors from rabbit uterine cytosol and liver cytosol had a sedimentation coefficient of approximately 9 S. However, in contrast to the steroid receptors, the Ah receptor showed no change in its sedimentation properties in either tissue in the presence of KN 382/EC1, indicating that the antibody is not interacting with the Ah receptor. Multimeric Ah receptor complexes that were chemically crosslinked still did not show any interaction with KN 382/EC1. These data indicate that the 59-kDa protein either is not associated with the Ah receptor or is present in an altered form which the antibody cannot recognize.

Particulate untransformed glucocorticoid-receptor complexes from HeLa cells crosslinked in vivo

When control HeLa cells were incubated at 2 degrees C in the presence of tritiated dexamethasone, most glucocorticoid-receptor complexes were found in cytosolic extracts as untransformed forms. Chemical crosslinking of intact HeLa cells resulted in the immobilization of 50% of the total cellular glucocorticoid-receptor complexes in the nuclear fraction. Under these conditions the redistribution of total protein, RNA and lactate dehydrogenase activity between cytosol and nuclei was negligible, indicating that glucocorticoid binding in the nuclear fraction was not due to a methodological artifact. High levels of glucocorticoid receptor were also found in the nuclear fraction of crosslinked cells which were not exposed to glucocorticoids. Nuclear receptor complexes could be released in soluble forms by DNase I and sonication. Evaluations of DNA binding and ionic properties of glucocorticoid receptors prepared from control and crosslinked cells maintained at 2 degrees C revealed that most of the hormone-receptor complex in cytosols and nuclear extracts behaved as untransformed forms. As opposed to glucocorticoid receptors prepared from control cells, heat treatment of extracts obtained from crosslinked cells did not result in increased DNA binding and changes in ionic properties of receptor complexes. I conclude that untransformed glucocorticoid receptors are present in both cytosol and nuclei of intact cells.

Interaction of the chicken progesterone receptor with heat shock protein (HSP) 90

The chicken progesterone receptor A (PRA) was expressed from cDNA by in vitro transcription and translation and also by transient transfection of receptor-negative COS M6 cells. These receptors synthesized from cDNA exhibited functional properties similar to those of oviduct PRA. The ability of PRA to form an 8S complex and to bind to DNA was studied. PRA, synthesized by either expression system, formed an 8S complex which was dissociated by incubation in vitro with 0.4 M NaCl or 20 nM progesterone to generate a 4S species able to bind to DNA-cellulose. The presence of HSP 90 in the PRA 8S complex was confirmed by use of an HSP 90-specific antibody, AC-7. Expression constructs coding for various receptor deletions were studied in order to identify the site of interaction of PRA with HSP 90. Deletions of 290 amino acids from the C-terminus resulted in the loss of ability to form an 8S complex. Truncated receptor proteins lacking 153 amino acids from the C-terminus or 369 amino acids from the N-terminus were able to interact with HSP 90. These data suggest that the site of interaction between PRA and HSP 90 responsible for 8S complex formation may be in this region (amino acid 369-506). However, small internal amino acid deletions in this region of PRA did not result in the loss of interaction of mutant receptor proteins with HSP 90. Thus, it appears that there may be more than one site of interaction between PRA and HSP 90 in this region.

The non-activated glucocorticoid receptor: structure and activation

Glucocorticoid hormone receptors are present in the soluble fraction of target cell homogenates as large entities (Mr approximately 300,000) that are unable to interact with DNA. These large complexes contain an Mr approximately 94,000 steroid- and DNA-binding polypeptide, in association with an Mr approximately 90,000 non-ligand-binding entity, which has been identified as a heat shock protein, hsp90. This protein has been purified to near homogeneity as a component of the non-activated receptor complex. Characterization of the purified protein revealed its presence as a dimer in the large receptor form. Dissociation of the receptor-hsp90 complex can be induced by heat treatment only when ligand is bound to the receptor, as demonstrated by specific DNA-binding assay and sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation, hsp90 represents ca 1% of total proteins in rat liver cytosol, and milligram amounts were purified using a combination of high performance ion exchange and gel permeation chromatography. Monospecific antibodies were raised in rabbits. They were found to precipitate the intact non-activated glucocorticoid receptor, as well as the Mr approximately 27,000 steroid-binding fragment of the receptor generated by trypsin treatment, indicating that hsp90 interacts with the steroid-binding domain of the glucocorticoid receptor. Finally, translation of glucocorticoid receptor mRNA in reticulocyte lysate yields a protein which also interacts with hsp90 and binds to DNA only after ligand-binding and heat treatment. Thus, the glucocorticoid receptor is synthesized in a non-activated form also in vitro.

Chemical crosslinking: a useful tool for evaluations of steroid receptor structures and their functional states in intact cells

A procedure of chemical crosslinking of intact cells with glutaraldehyde was employed to contribute to the understanding of glucocorticoid receptor structures and their functional states in vivo. Under optimal experimental conditions, glucocorticoid binding sites were found almost equally distributed between cytosolic and nuclear fractions of crosslinked cells. Sedimentation properties of crosslinked receptor complexes in cytosolic and nuclear extracts revealed that these entities were oligomers, which heterogeneously sedimented between 11 and 4S in the presence of 0.3 M NaCl. By anion exchange chromatography, we could establish that these receptor complex oligomers behaved as untransformed forms.

Tetrameric structure of the nonactivated glucocorticoid receptor in cell extracts and intact cells

Mouse lymphoma cells contain a nonactivated glucocorticoid receptor of Mr approximately 330,000 which is heteromeric in nature and is unable to bind to DNA. Following affinity labeling of the steroid-binding subunit and subsequent cross-linking with dimethyl suberimidate at various times either in cell extracts or in intact cells, a series of labeled bands was detected in SDS gels. From the molecular masses of completely and partially cross-linked complexes we conclude that the large nonactivated receptor is a tetramer composed of two 90 kDa subunits, one 50 kDa polypeptide and one steroid-binding subunit.