Selective effect of zinc compared to other divalent metals on L-triiodothyronine binding to rat c-erbA alpha and beta proteins

The effects of zinc and other divalent metals on the 125I]T3 binding to rat c-erbA alpha and beta recombinant proteins were assessed. The addition of ZnCl2 caused a reversible and dose-dependent inhibition of 125I]T3 binding to rc-erbA beta proteins with half maximum inhibition occurring at 50-100 microM, but no significant effect on 125I]T3 binding to rc-erbA alpha under the same assay conditions. Scatchard analysis revealed a decrease in 125I]T3 binding capacity to beta protein without marked change in Kd values in presence of zinc. Moreover, significant inhibitions of 125I]T3 binding to both alpha and beta proteins were observed in the presence of 100 microM of either MnCl2, CdCl2 or CuCl2, but not MgCl2. Thus, the selective effect of zinc compared to other divalent metals to inhibit T3 binding to rc-erbA beta, but not alpha, proteins was documented and suggest a possible regulatory role for zinc in modulating the intracellular action of thyroid hormone.