Evidence for depression of nuclear protein synthesis and concomitant stimulation of nuclear RNA synthesis during early estrogen action

Regulation of polyribosome formation and protein synthesis in the uterus. Effect of ovariectomy and administration of oestradiol-17beta on the amino acid-incorporation activity in vitro and the cytoplasmic concentration in vivo of polyribosomal preparation

1. The hormonal regulation of cytoplasmic protein synthesis in the uterus is described. Polyribosomal preparation from uteri of normal or ovariectomized rats was isolated by procedure 3 and assayed for [(14)C]leucine-incorporation activity in the cell-free system, as described by Teng & Hamilton (1967). 2. Ovariectomy of normal animals caused, 3 weeks after surgery, a 50-60% increase in the amino acid-incorporation activity in vitro of uterine polyribosomal preparation, but a 90-95% decrease in the cytoplasmic concentration in vivo of the preparation. 3. Administration of 10mug. of oestradiol-17beta to ovariectomized rats at zero time caused, 10-12hr. later, a 100% stimulation in amino acid-incorporation activity in vitro of the uterine polyribosomal preparation. From 12hr. to 36hr. after hormone administration, the activity in vitro of the preparation decreased. If a second dose of hormone was administered at 36hr., the activity in vitro of the preparation continued to decrease, and approached at 48hr. and 72hr. the lower activity observed for the preparation from normal animals. The cytoplasmic concentration of polyribosomal preparation increased by 600-700% under these experimental conditions. If a second dose of oestradiol-17beta was not administered at 36hr., the initially elevated cytoplasmic concentration of the preparation decreased by 50% from 36hr. to 72hr., and the activity in vitro of the preparation was not fully depressed to the ;normal' value. 4. Pretreatment of ovariectomized animals with actinomycin D or cycloheximide abolished 80-90% of the stimulatory effects of hormone treatment on the amino acid-incorporation activity in vitro and cytoplasmic concentration in vivo of uterine polyribosomal preparation. 5. Two major conclusions are drawn from the results reported: that during early oestrogen action new polyribosomes having amino acid-incorporation properties different from those of the old ones appear and accumulate in the cytoplasm of the uterus; and that the regulation of cytoplasmic protein synthesis in the organ by oestrogen is of an indirect nature, with dual effects of the hormone on genetic transcription resulting in turn in a regulation of the rate and amount of genetic translation.

Regulation of polyribosome formation and protein synthesis in the uterus. Isolation of cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein particles and the principal properties of the cell-free protein-synthesizing system

1. Three procedures for isolating ribonucleoprotein particles from the cytoplasmic fraction of rat-uterus homogenates are described. By procedure 1, ribonucleoprotein particles were isolated in the presence of 5mm-Mg(2+) and 25mm-K(+), and the postmitochondrial supernatant fraction was made to 1.3% (w/v) in potassium deoxycholate. About 50% of the RNA and protein of the microsomal fraction was recovered in the monomeric ribosomes isolated. By procedure 2, ribonucleoprotein particles were isolated in the presence of 10mm-Mg(2+) and 0.1m-K(+), and in the absence of detergent. The ribosomes obtained were primarily polymeric, but recovery of microsomal RNA and protein was only 32%. By procedure 3, ribonucleoprotein particles were isolated according to procedure 1 but without the use of detergent. A mixture of polymeric and monomeric ribosomes was obtained, and the recovery of microsomal RNA and protein was about 60%. 2. Uterine polymeric and monomeric ribosomes, isolated by procedure 3 and designated ;polyribosomal preparation', were examined for protein-synthesizing capabilities. The principal properties of the cell-free protein-synthesizing system containing the polyribosomal preparation are described. The efficiency of amino acid incorporation in the complete system incubated for 30min. and containing the polyribosomal preparation was found to be either 2.5 molecules of [(14)C]leucine or 2.2 molecules of [(14)C]-valine incorporated/ribosome. Assay of the preparation in the complete cell-free system containing 10mm-sodium fluoride indicated that 40% of the incorporation activity is a result of initiation of new polypeptide chains and 60% is due to completion of previously existing chains. Monomeric ribosomes obtained by various treatments of the polyribosomal preparation with sodium fluoride, ribonuclease and potassium deoxycholate had decreased incorporation activity in the cell-free system. However, monomeric ribosomes obtained by treatment with sodium fluoride only had an incorporation activity 50% greater than that of monomers obtained by treatment with ribonuclease only. 3. The results indicate that uterine polymeric and monomeric ribosomes are sites of amino acid incorporation in vivo and in vitro. It is concluded that most polymeric and monomeric ribosomes occurring in the cytoplasmic fraction of the uterus are free and unattached to membranes, and that the polyribosomes are relatively unstable.

Factors affecting the binding of chick oviduct progesterone receptor to deoxyribonucleic acid: evidence that deoxyribonucleic acid alone is not the nuclear acceptor site

Studies on the interaction of the chick oviduct progesterone-receptor complex (P-R) with various nuclear components revealed a variable, nonsaturable binding of P-R to pure deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). In contrast, a receptor-dependent, saturable, high level of binding of P-R was observed with a nonhistone protein-DNA complex called nucleoacidic protein (NAP). Three categories of factors were identified which affected the binding of P-R to the DNA. These were (1) the conditions of the binding assay, (2) the properties of the receptor, and (3) the state of the DNA. The conditions in the binding assay which affect DNA binding are the choice of the blanks, the salt concentration, and the pH of the assay. The receptor preparations display their own characteristic levels of binding to native DNA. The basis of this DNA binding capacity by each preparation is unknown. Lastly, the purity and the integrity of the DNA itself determine the level of binding of the P-R. Protein impurities, moderate degradation of the DNA by enzymatic or physical fragmentation, and ultraviolet (UV) light treatment greatly enhance the receptor binding to the DNA. The extent of binding to DNA depends on the degree of damage. Interestingly, totally denatured (single-stranded) DNA displays little or no binding of the P-R. Seasonal differences which are observed for the binding of P-R to chromatin in vivo and in vitro and to NAP in vitro do not occur with DNA whether it is undamaged or damaged. It is concluded from these studies that under controlled conditions and by using DNA preparations as native as possible, minimal binding of P-R to pure DNA occurs. The numerous reports in the literature describing marked binding of the steroid-receptor complex to DNA may well be due to conditions described in this paper. Further, it is concluded that native or partially degraded DNA alone does not appear to represent the native nuclear acceptor sites for the chick oviduct P-R. In contrast, the DNA-nonhistone protein (acceptor protein) complexes do show characteristics of the native-like acceptor sites.

New concepts on the action of oestrogens in the uterus and the role of the eosinophil receptor system

Two receptor systems for oestrogens have been demonstrated in the uterus: the cytosol-nuclear receptor system and the eosinophil receptor system. It has been proposed that the cytosol-nuclear receptor system mediates the genomic response to oestrogens in the uterus, while the eosinophil receptor system is thought to mediate the uterine edema and other early oestrogenic responses in the uterus. Cortisol is known to decrease drastically the number of eosinophils in the blood and therefore to limit their availability for migration to the uterus. The present results show that cortisol also drastically reduces both the oestrogen-induced uterine eosinophilia and the uterine wet weight responses, but does not interfere with the oestrogen-induced uterine RNA and protein increases. Oestradiol-17 beta has a higher affinity than oestriol for the cytosol-nuclear receptors and is now found to be the more potent oestrogen in inducing the genomic activation in the uterus. Estriol has a higher affinity than oestradiol-17 beta for the eosinophil receptors, and therefore, oestriol is the stronger oestrogen in inducing those oestrogenic effects which are mediated by the eosinophil receptor system. We conclude that the eosinophil receptor system for oestrogens is a new system, independent of Jensen's cytosol-nuclear receptor system, and this eosinophil receptor system is involved in the mechanism of oestrogen action in the uterus.

RNA polymerase activity and uterine growth: Differential stimulation by estradiol, estriol, and nafoxidine

We have shown previously that estradiol, estriol, and Nafoxidine (Upjohn 11, 100A) have differential effects on uterine growth and that these effects are associated with the retention of the estrogen receptor by the nucleus. In order to examine these relationships further, we have studied the effect of these hormones on endogenous nuclear RNA polymerase I and II in the immature rat uterus. All three compounds caused a rapid elevation in polymerase II activity that reached a peak by the first hour and declined to almost control levels by 2 h after the injection. This transient peak in polymerase II activity was followed by a second elevation by the fourth hour in estradiol- and Nafoxidine-treated animals which was not observed in estriol-treated rats. The activity of polymerase I increased monotonically to very high levels by 4 h and was maintained 12 h or longer in estradiol- and Nafoxidine-treated animals. A similar elevation was observed in estriol-treated rats but the activity declined very rapidly to control levels by 12 h. The second elevation in polymerase II activity and the sustained stimulation of polymerase I activity were correlated with the stimulation of true uterine growth. These data confirm our previous suggestion that long-term nuclear retention of the receptor is a requirement for true uterine growth and suggest that an obligatory response in the production of true growth is the stimulation of a second rise in polymerase II activity and an elevated and sustained activity of polymerase I.

Female steroid hormones and target cell nuclei

The data discussed herein demonstrate the great variation in target-tissue response that can occur after administration of steroid hormones. The female sex steroids can exert regulatory effects on the synthesis, activity, and possibly even the degradation of tissue enzymes and structural proteins. Each response, nevertheless, appears to be dependent on the synthesis of nuclear RNA. In many instances, the steroid actually promotes a qualitative change in the base composition and sequence of the RNA synthesized by the target cell, implying a specific effect on gene transcription. Most important is our direct quantitative evidence that sex steroids cause a net increase in the intracellular amounts of specific mRNA molecules in target tissues. It thus appears that we are discovering a pattern of steroid hormone action which includes (Fig. 1): (i) uptake of the hormone by the target cell and binding to a specific cytoplasmic receptor protein; (ii) transport of the steroid-receptor complex to the nucleus; (iii) binding of this "active" complex to specific "acceptor" sites on the genome (chromatin DNA and acidic protein); (iv) activation of the transcriptional apparatus resulting in the appearance of new RNA species which includes specific mRNA's; (v) transport of the hormone-induced RNA to the cytoplasm resulting in synthesis of new proteins on cytoplasmic ribosomes; and (vi) the occurrence of the specific steroid-mediated "functional response" characteristic of that particular target tissue. To elucidate fully the mechanism of steroid hormone action we must study the biochemistry of the process by which information held by the steroid hormone-receptor complex is transferred to the nuclear transcription apparatus. If our assumptions are correct, we should ultimately be able to discover how this hormone-receptor complex exerts a specific regulatory effect on nuclear RNA metabolism. Such regulation might be achieved (i) by direct effects on chromatin template leading to increased gene transcription and thus RNA synthesis; (ii) by activation of the polymerase complex itself; (iii) by inhibition of RNA breakdown; or (iv) by intranuclear processing of large precursor molecules so that smaller biologically active sequences are produced, and (v) by transport of RNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasmic sites of cellular protein synthesis.

Studies on the correlation between androgen binding and activation of rat epididymal tubules in culture

Rat epididymal tubules maintained in organ culture for 3 or 7 days in media containing androgen showed a marked increase in the incorporation of radioactive amino acids and uridine into acid insoluble material. When the tubules were exposed to these hormones for brief periods, the incorporation of precursors was inhibited initially. In studying the time course of binding of 3H testosterone to the cytoplasmic receptor, a significant amount of radioactivity bound to the receptor was detected only after 12 hr of exposure to the hormone which increased three-fold after 24 hr. The time lag in the binding corresponded closely to the shortest times of observed hormone action wherein a significant increase in the incoporation of uridine (16 hr) and amino acids (24 hr) was produced. Evidence is presented demonstrating that testosterone is bound with high affinity by components of the fetal calf serum present in the culture medium.

Early effects of oestradiol-17 on the chromatin and activity of the deoxyribonucleic acid-dependent ribonucleic acid polymerases (I and II) of the rat uterus

Oestradiol-17beta (1.0mug) was injected intravenously into ovariectomized rats. The earliest detectable hormonal response in isolated uterine nuclei was an increase (10-15min) in RNA polymerase II activity (DNA-like RNA synthesis), which reached a peak at 30min and then decreased to control values (by 1-2h) before displaying a second increase over control activity from 2 to 12h. The next response to oestradiol-17beta was an increase (30-60min) in polymerase I activity (rRNA synthesis) and template capacity of the chromatin. The concentrations of acidic chromatin proteins did not begin to increase until 1h after injection of oestradiol-17beta and histone concentrations showed no significant changes during the 8h period after administration. The early (15min) increase in RNA synthesis in ;high-salt conditions' can be completely eliminated by alpha-amanitin, an inhibitor of the RNA polymerase II. The exact nature of this early increase in endogenous polymerase II activity remains to be determined, e.g. whether it is caused by the increased availability of transcribable DNA of the chromatin or via direct hormonal activation of the enzyme per se.

Changes in the patterns of synthesis of ribonucleic acid species in immature rat uterus in response to oestrdiol-17 beta

1. After treatment of immature rats with diethylstilboestrol, the wet weight and RNA content of uterine tissue increased rapidly, reaching a peak at 40hr. After an initial lag of a few hours, the acid-soluble ribose and protein contents also rose to maxima at 40hr. No increase in DNA content occurred until at least 24hr. after treatment. 2. The RNA from immature rat uterus isolated at various times up to 6hr. after administration of oestradiol-17beta was labelled by injecting [(3)H]uridine and [(3)H]guanosine intraperitoneally 30min. before the animals were killed. It was fractionated on columns of kieselguhr coated with methylated serum albumin and the radioactivity in fractions corresponding to transfer RNA, 7s RNA, ribosomal RNA, Q(1)-RNA, Q(2)-RNA and DNA-like RNA was determined. 3. The radioactivity of the whole RNA increased steadily for 6hr. after hormone treatment. The earliest changes occurred in the Q(1)-RNA (ribosomal RNA precursor), whereas at longer time-intervals the radioactivity of the ribosomal RNA, 7s RNA and transfer RNA increased by four- to five-fold. The radioactivity of the DNA-like RNA increased by about 50%, but only at the longer time-intervals. 4. It is concluded that one of the earliest changes in response to oestradiol treatment is a major increase in synthesis of ribosomal RNA followed later by a similar increase in synthesis of transfer RNA and by a much smaller increase in synthesis of DNA-like RNA. The change in synthesis of ribosomal RNA in immature rat uterus may represent one of the most important responses to oestradiol treatment.

17 beta-estradiol: inducer of uterine hexokinase

Administration of estradiol to ovariectomized rats induced new synthesis of uterine hexokinase which was prevented by actinomycin D, 5-fluorouracil, cycloheximide, or ethionine. The estradiol-induced increase in uterine hexokinase activity was detectable as early as 4 hours. The increase in enzyme activity was dependent upon the dose of the hormone. The evidence indicates that the increased hexokinase activity induced by 17beta-estradiol may entail an acceleration of the synthesis of certain RNA species.