Estrogen binding protein of rat liver.

An estrogen binding protein for estradiol-17beta is present in the liver cytosol of female intact and one day oophorectomized rats. The dissociation constant reveals high affinity binding (Kd: 0.69 +/- 0.14 times 10(-10) M). Quantitation of EBP using a dextran-coated charcoal method shows that this specific macromolecular binding is much less than in the rat uterus, but similar to that in DMBA-induced mammary tumors. Sucrose density gradient analysis shows sedimentation at 8-9 S and 4-5 S when compared to bovine serum albumin.     

The binding of the B-chain of ricin to Burkitt lymphoma cells. A new approach to ligand-receptor interaction studies

It is shown that conformational changes of receptor proteins brought about by binding of a ligand induce changes in the lipid environment of the receptor that can be monitored by fluorescent lipid probes. On this basis a new approach to studies of ligand-receptor binding is proposed. Using the interaction of the ricin B-chain with Burkitt lymphoma cells as an example and fluorescent labelled sphingomyelin as a probe, the ligand-induced changes of fluorescence anisotropy were shown to be concentration-dependent and to permit determination of the binding constant and the number of receptor-binding sites. The method was found to be specific and highly sensitive, allowing detection of the action of one RB molecule per cell. Scatchard analysis of the binding of 125I-RB demonstrated the presence on the cell surface of two binding sites with Kd approximately 10(-10) and approximately 10(-8) M, respectively. Only the high-affinity sites were detected by the fluorescence technique. Saturation of these sites resulted in maximum inhibition of protein synthesis.     

Estrogen receptor-ligand complexes measured by chip-based nanoelectrospray mass spectrometry: an approach for the screening of endocrine disruptors

In the present report, a method based on chip-based nanoelectrospray mass spectrometry (nanoESI-MS) is described to detect noncovalent ligand binding to the human estrogen receptor alpha ligand-binding domain (hERalpha LBD). This system represents an important environmental interest, because a wide variety of molecules, known as endocrine disruptors, can bind to the estrogen receptor (ER) and induce adverse health effects in wildlife and humans. Using proper experimental conditions, the nanoESI-MS approach allowed for the detection of specific ligand interactions with hERalpha LBD. The relative gas-phase stability of selected hERalpha LBD-ligand complexes did not mirror the binding affinity in solution, a result that demonstrates the prominent role of hydrophobic contacts for stabilizing ER-ligand complexes in solution. The best approach to evaluate relative solution-binding affinity by nanoESI-MS was to perform competitive binding experiments with 17beta-estradiol (E2) used as a reference ligand. Among the ligands tested, the relative binding affinity for hERalpha LBD measured by nanoESI-MS was 4-hydroxtamoxifen approximately diethylstilbestrol > E2 > genistein > bisphenol A, consistent with the order of the binding affinities in solution. The limited reproducibility of the bound to free protein ratio measured by nanoESI-MS for this system only allowed the binding constants (K(d)) to be estimated (low nanomolar range for E2). The specificity of nanoESI-MS combined with its speed (1 min/ligand), low sample consumption (90 pmol protein/ligand), and its sensitivity for ligand (30 ng/mL) demonstrates that this technique is a promising method for screening suspected endocrine disrupting compounds and to qualitatively evaluate their binding affinity.     

Reconstitution of Epstein-Barr virus-based plasmid partitioning in budding yeast

The EBNA1 protein of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) mediates the partitioning of EBV episomes and EBV-based plasmids during cell division by a mechanism that appears to involve binding to the cellular EBP2 protein on human chromosomes. We have investigated the ability of EBNA1 and the EBV segregation element (FR) to mediate plasmid partitioning in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. EBNA1 expression alone did not enable the stable segregation of FR-containing plasmids in yeast, but segregation was rescued by human EBP2. The reconstituted segregation system required EBNA1, human EBP2 and the FR element, and functionally replaced a CEN element. An EBP2 binding mutant of EBNA1 and an EBNA1 binding mutant of EBP2 each failed to support FR-plasmid partitioning, indicating that an EBNA1-EBP2 interaction is required. The results provide direct evidence of the role of hEBP2 in EBNA1-mediated segregation and demonstrate that heterologous segregation systems can be reconstituted in yeast.     

EBNA1 partitions Epstein-Barr virus plasmids in yeast cells by attaching to human EBNA1-binding protein 2 on mitotic chromosomes

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) episomal genomes are stably maintained in human cells and are partitioned during cell division by mitotic chromosome attachment. Partitioning is mediated by the viral EBNA1 protein, which binds both the EBV segregation element (FR) and a mitotic chromosomal component. We previously showed that the segregation of EBV-based plasmids can be reconstituted in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and is absolutely dependent on EBNA1, the EBV FR sequence, and the human EBNA1-binding protein 2 (EBP2). We have now used this yeast system to elucidate the functional contribution of human EBP2 to EBNA1-mediated plasmid partitioning. Human EBP2 was found to attach to yeast mitotic chromosomes in a cell cycle-dependent manner and cause EBNA1 to associate with the mitotic chromosomes. The domain of human EBP2 that binds both yeast and human chromosomes was mapped and shown to be functionally distinct from the EBNA1-binding domain. The functionality and localization of human EBP2 mutants and fusion proteins indicated that the attachment of EBNA1 to mitotic chromosomes is crucial for EBV plasmid segregation in S. cerevisiae, as it is in humans, and that this is the contribution of human EBP2. The results also indicate that plasmid segregation in S. cerevisiae can occur through chromosome attachment.     

Protein-ligand binding detected using ultrafiltration Raman difference spectroscopy

A new ultra-filtration-Raman-difference (UFRD) method facilitates the tag-free screening and quantitation of protein-ligand binding constants. The method relies on drop-coating-deposition-Raman (DCDR) combined with ultrafiltration and difference spectroscopy. Ultrafiltration is used to remove free (unbound) ligands from pre-equilibrated protein/ligand solutions. Difference DCDR spectroscopy is used to detect binding-induced vibrational spectral changes obtained from proteins with and without a bound ligand. The capabilities of the UFRD method are demonstrated using the binding of 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) to transthyretin (TTR), as well as preliminary measurements in several other systems. The UFRD results clearly reveal DNP spectral features induced by binding to TTR and confirm that only a 1:1 complex is formed even under 10-fold excess DNP conditions. The UFRD method is shown to be most useful when applied to strongly Raman active ligands (such as aromatic compounds). Weakly Raman-active ligands (such as sugars) are typically not compatible with UFRD detection (unless they produce a sufficiently large binding-induced change in protein secondary structure). Theoretical predictions suggest that UFRD may be used to screen binding events with a dissociation constant cut-off of the order of 10 microM, and perhaps also to quantify dissociation constants in the 100 nM to 100 microM range.     

A kinetic analysis of the estrogen receptor transformation.

The rate of the 4 to 5 S estrogen-binding protein (EBP) in vitro transformation was measured by sucrose gradient centrifugation analysis. The temperature-activated 4 to 5 S EBP transformation is found to be highly reproducible without loss of [3H]estradiol-binding activity in a buffer containing an excess of [3H]estradiol, 40 mM Tris, 1 mM dithiothreitol, and 1 M urea at pH 7.4. The presence of [3H]estradiol is necessary for the 4 to 5 EBP transformation. A kinetic analysis of the 4 to 5 EBP transformation shows that it is a bimolecular reaction, the dimerization of the 4 S EBP with a second (similar or dissimilar) monomer or subunit. In buffers containing 0.4 M KCl the apparent second order rate constant is 2.3 plus or minus 0-2 times 10-7 M minus 1 min minus 1 at 28 degrees. The reaction is independent of the initial receptor concentration, suggesting that the 4 S EBP is dissociated into monomeric units in buffers of high ionic strength. In buffers without KCl or with 0.1 M KCl the apparent second order rate constant of receptor transformation increases with decreasing receptor concentration. This suggests that the 4 S EBP is associated weakly with another macromolecule (or macromolecules) in buffers of low ionic strength. The rate of 4 to 5 S EBP transformation shows a 200-fold increase between 0 and 35 degrees. The Arrhenius energy of activation is 21.3 kcal mol minus 1 in buffer without KCl and 19.1 kcal mol minus 1 in buffer with 0.4 M KCl. Following the temperature-activated dimerization, the avidity of binding between the 4 S EBP and its complementary subunit is increased, 0.4 M KCl can no longer cause dissociation, and the 5 S EBP dimer appears. This kinetic analysis indicates that the avidity of binding between the subunits of the estrogen receptor is modulated by estradiol, temperature, and ionic strength. We propose that these interactions of the estrogen receptor's subunits reflect conformational changes involved in receptor activation.     

Estrogen receptors and growth response in cultured human periodontal ligament cells

The periodontal ligament (PDL) is a connective tissue involved in the remodeling process associated with tooth development and positioning. PDL cells grown in culture were analyzed for the capacity to specifically bind steroid hormones and for growth response to estradiol-17 beta. Using [3H]estradiol-17 beta as the ligand, PDL cells in first passage cultures exhibited a specific estrogen binding capacity of 881 fmol/mg cell protein. With [3H]dexamethasone as a ligand, the binding capacity of the glucocorticoid receptor was 143 fmol/mg protein. With [3H]R5020 as a ligand, the progestin receptor exhibited a binding capacity of 5 pmol/mg protein. Scatchard analysis of estradiol binding at 37 degrees revealed a dissociation constant of 2.7 X 10(-9) M, representative of the estrogen receptor. The addition of estradiol-17 beta at concentrations of 10(-9) and 10(-8) M to culture media induced a dose-dependent decrease in growth (DNA content) to 62% and 38% control values, respectively. The addition of the antiestrogens tamoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen at concentrations of 10(-7) and 10(-6) M similarly depressed cell growth. These results show that PDL cells contain high affinity receptors for several steroid hormones and further that these cells are targets for the action of estrogens.     

Sequestration electrochemistry: the interaction of chlorpromazine and human orosomucoid

A simple and rapid method is presented for determination of the association constants and stoichiometries describing ligand macromolecule interactions. Based on flow injection analysis and electrochemical detection by amperometry, the only requirements for direct measurements are that the ligand have redox properties and that these properties change upon binding to the macromolecule. Bound ligand may then be measured in the presence of free ligand. Detection limits are of the order of 2 pmol of ligand or less, a level that should provide access to previously unmeasurable systems. For the exemplary system, chlorpromazine and human orosomucoid, K0ass was determined as 0.39 X 10(6) M-1 with 0.76 chlorpromazine binding sites of this affinity per orosomucoid molecule.     

Characterization of an estrogen-binding protein in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

This paper further characterizes the estrogen-binding protein we have described in the cytosol of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. [3H]Estradiol was used as the radioprobe, and specific binding of cytosol fractions was measured by chromatography on Sephadex minicolumns. Other 3H-steroids did not exhibit specific binding. [3H]Estradiol binding was destroyed by treatment with trypsin, but not RNase, DNase, or phospholipase; N-ethylmaleimide substantially decreased the binding. The yeast did not metabolize estradiol added to the medium, and extraction and chromatography of the bound moiety showed it to be unmetabolized estradiol. Scatchard analysis of cytosol from both a and alpha mating types as well as the a/alpha diploid cell revealed similar binding properties: an apparent dissociation constant or Kd(25 degrees) for [3H]estradiol of 1.6-1.8 nM and a maximal binding capacity or Nmax of approximately 2000-2800 fmol/mg of cytosol protein. Gel exclusion chromatography on Sephacryl S-200 and high performance liquid chromatography suggested a Stokes radius of approximately 30 A. Sucrose gradient centrifugation showed a sedimentation coefficient of approximately 5 S, and the complex did not exhibit ionic dependent aggregation. The estrogen binder in S. cerevisiae differed in its steroidal specificities from classical mammalian estrogen receptors in rat uterus. 17 beta-Estradiol was the best competitor, 17 alpha-estradiol had about 5% the activity, and diethylstilbestrol exhibited negligible binding affinity as did tamoxifen, nafoxidine, and the zearalenones. In summary, a high affinity, stereospecific, steroid-selective binding protein has been demonstrated in the cytosol of the simple yeast S. cerevisiae. We speculate that this molecule may represent a primitive hormone receptor system, possibly for an estrogen-like message molecule.     

Cytosol type II sites in the rat uterus: interaction with an endogenous ligand

Previous studies from our laboratory demonstrated that normal, but not malignant tissues, contain a ligand which competes for [3H]estradiol binding to nuclear type II sites in the rat uterus. Since elevated nuclear levels of type II sites are correlated with estrogen stimulation of uterine growth and DNA synthesis, we believe this ligand may regulate cell growth. The present studies show that the ligand for nuclear type II sites also interacts with type II sites in uterine cytosol. This was demonstrated by dilution experiments which show that greater quantities of type II sites are measured in dilute (10 mg/ml) than in concentrated (40 mg/ml) uterine cytosol. Furthermore, stripping of uterine cytosol with 1% dextrancoated charcoal, or pre-binding cytosol type II sites to hydroxylapetite (HAP) prior to binding analysis, removed the ligand from these preparations such that high levels of type II sites were measured. Following charcoal stripping, cytosol type II sites demonstrated good specificity for estrogenic hormones but not progesterone, corticosterone, or the triphenylethylene anti-estrogen, nafoxidine. Since the level of type II sites in the cytosol always preceded and exceeded the level of this site measured in uterine nuclei at all times following estrogen treatment (0-96 h), we believe cytosol type II sites may function as an type II-ligand binding protein (LBP) which regulates the availability of the ligand for interaction with nuclear type II sites. This is consistent with our observation that type II sites are not depleted from uterine cytosol by estrogen treatment and nuclear type II sites are very tightly associated with the nuclear matrix.     

Shared and unique determinants of the erythropoietin (EPO) receptor are important for binding EPO and EPO mimetic peptide.

We have shown previously that Phe93 in the extracellular domain of the erythropoietin (EPO) receptor (EPOR) is crucial for binding EPO. Substitution of Phe93 with alanine resulted in a dramatic decrease in EPO binding to the Escherichia coli-expressed extracellular domain of the EPOR (EPO-binding protein or EBP) and no detectable binding to full-length mutant receptor expressed in COS cells. Remarkably, Phe93 forms extensive contacts with a peptide ligand in the crystal structure of the EBP bound to an EPO-mimetic peptide (EMP1), suggesting that Phe93 is also important for EMP1 binding. We used alanine substitution of EBP residues that contact EMP1 in the crystal structure to investigate the function of these residues in both EMP1 and EPO binding. The three largest hydrophobic contacts at Phe93, Met150, and Phe205 and a hydrogen bonding interaction at Thr151 were examined. Our results indicate that Phe93 and Phe205 are important for both EPO and EMP1 binding, Met150 is not important for EPO binding but is critical for EMP1 binding, and Thr151 is not important for binding either ligand. Thus, Phe93 and Phe205 are important binding determinants for both EPO and EMP1, even though these ligands share no sequence or structural homology, suggesting that these residues may represent a minimum epitope on the EPOR for productive ligand binding.     

Developmental regulation of specific protein interactions with an enhancerlike binding site far upstream from the avian very-low-density apolipoprotein II gene.

Expression of the avian very-low-density apolipoprotein II (apoVLDLII) gene is completely dependent on estrogen and restricted to the liver. We have identified binding sites for nonhistone nuclear proteins located between -1.96 and -2.61 kilobases. One of these sites, located at -2.6 kilobases (designated site 1), was found to span an MspI site that becomes demethylated between days 7 and 9 of embryogenesis, the stage of development at which competence to express the apoVLDLII gene begins to be acquired. Levels of the factor(s) involved were high at day 7 of embryogenesis, decreased two- to threefold by days 9 to 11, and continued to decline more slowly until hatching. Furthermore, the mobility of the complex formed underwent a well-defined shift between days 11 to 13 embryogenesis. Methylation interference studies showed that modification of the outer guanosines of the MspI site resulted in marked inhibition of the formation of the protein-DNA complex. Competition studies, fractionation of nuclear extracts, and tissue distribution indicated that the factor was not the avian homolog of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1, nuclear factor 1, or CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP). However, site 1 could complete for binding to an oligonucleotide, previously shown to be recognized by C/EBP, in a nonreciprocal fashion. These studies demonstrate that the sequence recognized by the protein includes a C/EBP consensus sequence but that elements in addition to the core enhancer motif are essential for binding.