Estrogen-induced synthesis of riboflavin-binding protein in immature chicks. Kinetics and hormonal specificity

The kinetics of estrogen-induced elevation in the plasma concentration of riboflavin-binding protein, a minor yolk constituent, was investigated in immature male chicks, using a specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay procedure. Following a single injection of the hormone, the plasma riboflavin-binding protein content was enhanced several-fold at 6 h, reaching peak levels around 48 h and declining thereafter. A two-fold amplification of the response was evident on secondary stimulation with the hormone. A 4-h lag phase prior to onset of induction was noticed during both primary and secondary stimulations with the steroid hormone. The magnitude of the response was dependent on the hormonal dose whereas the initial lag phase and the time of peak riboflavin-binding protein accumulation were unaltered within the range of hormonal doses tested. The half-life of riboflavin-binding protein in the circulation was 10 h, as calculated from measurement of the rate of disappearance of exogenously administered 125I-labelled protein. Simultaneous administration of progesterone did not affect the kinetics of riboflavin-binding protein production. On the other hand, the antiestrogens, cis- and trans-clomiphene citrates, given 30 min prior to estrogen and cycloheximide, effectively counteracted the hormone-induced riboflavin-binding protein elaboration. Both progesterone and the antiestrogens per se were completely ineffective in substituting for estrogen in the inductive process.     

Oestrogen-induced synthesis of thiamin-binding protein in immature chicks. Kinetics of induction, hormonal specificity and modulation

A specific radioimmunoassay procedure was developed to monitor the plasma concentrations of thiamin-binding protein, a minor yolk constituent of the chicken egg. By using this sensitive assay, the kinetics of oestrogen-induced elaboration of this specific protein in immature chicks was investigated. After a single injection of the steroid hormone, with an initial lag period of 4–5h the thiamin-binding protein rapidly accumulated in the plasma, attaining peak concentrations around 75h and declining thereafter. A 4-fold amplification of the response was noticed during the secondary stimulation, and this increased to 9-fold during the tertiary stimulation with the steroid hormone. The magnitude of the response was dependent on the hormone dose, and the initial latent period and the duration of the ascending phase of induction were unchanged for the hormonal doses tested during both the primary and secondary stimulations. The circulatory half-life of the protein was 6h as calculated from the measurement of the rate of disappearance of the exogenously administered ¹²⁵I-labelled protein. Simultaneous administration of progesterone, dihydrotestosterone or corticosterone did not alter the pattern of induction. On the other hand, hyperthyroidism markedly decreased the oestrogenic response, whereas propylthiouracil-induced hypothyroidism had the opposite effect. The anti-oestrogen E- and Z-clomiphene citrates, administered 30min before oestrogen, effectively blocked the hormonal induction. α-Amanitin and cycloheximide administered along with or shortly after the sex steroid severely curtailed the protein elaboration. A comparison of the kinetics of induction of thiamin- and riboflavin-binding proteins by oestrogen revealed that, beneath an apparent similarity, a clear-cut difference exists between the two vitamin-binding proteins, particularly with regard to hormonal dose-dependent sensitivity of induction and the half-life in circulation. The steroid-mediated elaboration of the two yolk proteins thus appears to be not strictly co-ordinated, despite several common regulatory features underlying their induction.     

Induction of riboflavin-carrier protein in the immature male rat by estrogen: Kinetic and hormonal specificity

The kinetics of estrogen-induced accumulation of riboflavin-carrier protein in the plasma was investigated in immature male rats using a specific and sensitive homologous radio-immunoassay procedure developed for this purpose. Following a single injection of the steroid hormone, plasma riboflavin-carrier protein levels increased markedly after an initial lag period of approximately 24 h, reaching peak levels around 96 h and declining thereafter. A 1.5 fold amplification of the inductive response was evident on secondary stimulation with the hormone. The magnitude of the response was dependent on hormonal dose, whereas the initial lag phase and the time of peak riboflavin-carrier protein induction were unaltered within the range of the steroid doses (0.1–10 mg/ kg body wt.) tested. Simultaneous administration of progesterone did not affect either the kinetics or the maximum level of the protein induced. The hormonal specificity of this induction was further adduced by the effect of administration of antiestrogens viz., En and Zu chlomiphene citrates, which effectively curtailed hormonal induction of the protein. That the induction involvedde novo-protein synthesis was evident from the complete inhibition obtained upon administration of cycloheximide. Passive immunoneutralization of endogenous riboflavin-carrier protein with antiserum to the homologous protein terminated pregnancy in rats confirming the earlier results with antiserum to chicken riboflavin-carrier protein.     

Hormonal modulation of reproduction-specific thiamin carrier protein in the rat

The hormonal modulation of thiamin carrier protein in the plasma and uterine luminal secretion during the normal reproductive phases of the animal (estrous cycle and pregnancy) as well as during experimental estrogenisation was investigated in the rat using a specific and sensitive homologous radioimmunoassay procedure developed for this purpose. Following a single injection of estrogen to immature male rats, thiamin carrier protein rapidly accumulated in plasma attaining peak concentration at 48 h and declining thereafter. A 1.5-fold amplification of the inductive response was observed on secondary stimulation with the hormone. The magnitude of the response exhibited a clear dependency on the dose of the steroid hormone, whereas the time at which peak levels of thiamin carrier protein production was remained unaltered in the concentration range of the steroid tested. The inductive effect of estrogen was severely curtailed by the antiestrogens,viz., En- and Zu-clomiphene citrates, while progesterone was incapable of either modulating the estrogen-induced response or eliciting an induction by itself. Cycloheximide drastically blocked the response to estrogen. Evidence for the ability of uterus to serve as yet another independent site of thiamin carrier protein synthesis was obtained byin vitro incorporation of radioactive amino acids into immunoprecipitable thiamin carrier protein in the tissue explants of estrogenised female rats. The levels of thiamin carrier protein in uterine luminal fluid measured during estrous cycle, pregnancy and experimental estrogenisation exhibited remarkable similarity to the plasma thiamin carrier protein profiles.     

Induction of Phosvitin by Oestradiol in Rooster Liver needs DNA Synthesis

THE synthesis of an egg yolk protein phosvitin, which is normally synthesized by the laying hen, can be induced in immature pullets¹ or roosters² by treatment with oestrogens. Phosvitin appears in the plasma of roosters with a lag period of 24 h after a single injection of oestradiol, reaching maximum values at 72 h³. The lag period is reduced on sequential injections of the hormone. The peak values of the protein in plasma as well as total amounts synthesized are enhanced progressively with successive exposures to the hormone³. The livers of hormone-treated birds become larger^4,5. These observations suggested that the amplified response to sequential injections of the hormone could be due to more cells that synthesize the protein being mobilized. Our experiments suggest that DNA synthesis is necessary before the target cells can be stimulated to synthesize phosvitin by oestrogens.     

Studies on follicular growth in the immature rat and hamster: Effect of a single injection of gonadotropin or estrogen on the rate of3H-thymidine incorporation into ovarian DNAin vitro

Initiation of follicular growth by specific hormonal stimuli in ovaries of immature rats and hamsters was studied by determining the rate of incorporation of³H-thymidine into ovarian DNAin vitro. Incorporation was considered as an index of DNA synthesis and cell multiplication. A single injection of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin could thus maximally stimulate by 18 hr³H-thymidine incorporation into DNA of the ovary of immature hamsters. Neutralization of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin by an antiserum to ovine follicle stimulating hormone only during the initial 8–10 hr and not later could inhibit the increase in³H-thymidine incorporationin vitro observed at 18 hr, suggesting that the continued presence of gonadotropin stimulus was not necessary for this response. The other indices of follicular growth monitored such as ovarian weight, serum estradiol and uterine weight showed discernible increase at periods only after the above initial event. A single injection of estrogen (diethyl stilbesterol or estradiol-l7β) could similarly cause 18 hr later, a stimulation in the rate of incorporation of³H-thymidine into DNAin vitro in ovaries of immature rats. The presence of endogenous gonadotropins, however, was obligatory for observing this response to estrogen. Evidence in support of the above was two-fold: (i) administration of antiserum to follicle stimulating hormone or luteinizing hormone along with estrogen completely inhibited the increase in³H-thymidine incorporation into ovarian DNAin vitro; (ii) a radioimmunological measurement revealed following estrogen treatment, the presence of a higher concentration of endogenous follicle stimulating hormone in the ovary. Finally, administration of varying doses of ovine follicle stimulating hormone along with a constant dose of estrogen to immature rats produced a dose-dependent increment in the incorporation of³H-thymidine into ovarian DNAin vitro. These observations suggested the potentiality of this system for developing a sensitive bioassay for follicle stimulating hormone.     

In vitro synthesis of the glycosaminoglycans in estrogen-induced medullary bone in Japanese quail

A short-term incubation system has been developed for the study of glycosaminoglycan synthesis during the early stages of medullary bone formation in estrogenized male Japanese quail. Quail were injected with estradiol-17β and killed at different times thereafter. Femoral shafts were incubated in BGJ_b medium (Fitton-Jackson modification) for 2 h prior to being labeled with H₂³⁵SO₄ for 2 h in the same medium. Glycosaminoglycans were extracted by a 24-h papain digest and chromatographed on a DEAE Bio-Gel A column. Material from birds that had been treated with estrogen for 34 h prior to incubation produced an elution profile showing two distinct peaks (I and II). Elution profiles of material from control animals had a single peak corresponding to peak II in the estrogenized samples. The estrogen-induced glycosaminoglycan peak I was present after 20 h of estrogen treatment and increased dramatically between 25 and 30 h after treatment. Identification of the peak material was achieved by digestion with chondroitinase ABC, keratan sulfate β-endogalactosidase, or nitrous acid followed by chromatography on a Sephadex CL-6B column. Peak I was keratan sulfate and peak II was predominantly chondroitin sulfate. The in vitro production of a unique marker for medullary bone matrix provides an excellent opportunity for studying the dynamics of matrix synthesis.     

Carbohydrate compositional effects on tissue distribution of chicken riboflavin-binding protein

Riboflavin-binding proteins (RBP) purified from chicken egg white, yolk and the serum of laying hens differ in their carbohydrate compositions reflecting tissue-specific modifications of a single gene product. All three are complex glycoproteins having more than twice as many N-acetylglucosamine residues (>12) as mannose residues (approx. 6). Egg white RBP is distinctive in having only one sialic acid and two galactose residues. Serum RBP contains approx. five sialic acid and seven galactose residues. In addition there is one residue of fucose. The carbohydrate composition of yolk RBP indicates the hydrolysis, respectively, of one, one, two and 3 residues of sialic acid, fucose, galactose, and N-acetylglucosamine from its precursor, serum RBP. The effect of these differing levels of glycosylation on plasma clearance, ovarian uptake and tissue distribution of ¹²⁵I-labeled riboflavin-binding proteins in laying hens were compared. 2 h after intravenous injection, 19% of the egg white RBP, 29% of the yolk RBP, and 37% of the serum RBP remained in circulation. The kinetics of plasma clearance was distinctly biphasic for each of the radioiodinated proteins. The initial rapid-turnover component ($\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{=13}\text{min}$) ranged from 27% of the serum RBP sample to 48% of the egg white RBP sample. The remaining slow-turnover components were cleared with half-lives fo 81 min (egg white RBP), 101 min (yokl RBP), and 121 min (serum RBP). 16 h after injection, only 4% of the egg white RBP was deposited in the yolk of developing oocytes while about 12% of the serum RBP and yolk RBP was deposited. This higly significant difference is apparently due to preferential, carbohydrate-dependent clearance of egg white RBP by the liver rather than preferential uptake of serum and yolk RBP by the ovarian follicle. We find no evidence for carbohydrate-directed uptake of riboflavin-binding protein by the ovarian follicle.     

Hormonal basis of adult eclosion in the gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)

Eclosion hormone was found to control the stereotypic adult eclosion behaviour of Lymantria dispar, the gypsy moth. A bioassay for hormonal activity was developed utilizing pharate adult females, and comparisons were made with the Manduca wing assay. The distribution of eclosion hormone activity was confined to the central nervous system tissues including the protocerebrum, corpora allata/corpora cardiaca complex, thoracic and the last abdominal ganglion. Haemolymph ecdysteroid titres were determined daily throughout pupal-adult development, and the peak activity period was found in 3–4 day pupae. Eclosion hormone activity in the brain and corpora allata/corpora cardiaca complex started to increase when the ecdysteroid titre dropped to background levels. Eclosion hormone in the brain peaked in the pharate adult stage, was released in the haemolymph 1 h prior to eclosion, which coincides with the depletion of activity in the retrocerebral complex, and fell to undetectable levels after the adult emerged.     

Nucleoside incorporation as a function of hormone levels during the early phases of estrogen-induced genesis of medullary bone in the Japanese quail,Coturnix coturnix

Summary The sequence of changes in RNA synthesis during the early phases of genesis of medullary bone induced in male Japanese quail by estrogen treatment was studied by ³H-uridine uptake. Analyses of plasma estrogen and testosterone were done by radioimmunoassay at 12, 24, 38 and 61 h. A dose of 5 mg kg^-1 estradiol-17 was found to stimulate the same ³H-uridine uptake 15 h after hormone treatment as a dose of 20 mg kg^-1 of estradiol valerate. The uptake of ³H-uridine rose as the dose of estradiol-17 increased. Plasma estrogen levels, which were highest 12 h after injection, declined sharply during the next 12 h, returning to control levels between 38 and 61 h. Testosterone levels declined after estrogen administration and remained below control values at all time points. Following estrogen administration, ³H-uridine uptake declined from control values for the first 8 h. Twelve hours after hormone administration control levels were again reached, with maximum ³H-uridine uptake occurring 16 h after hormone treatment. The 16-h maximum was followed by a steady decline to below control levels at 20, 24 and 28 h, the time at which the experiment was discontinued. Maximum ³H-uridine up-take following estrogen stimulation is similar to that observed for the stimulated immature rat uterus.     

Regulation of chicken apolipoprotein B: cloning, tissue distribution, and estrogen induction of mRNA

Apolipoprotein (apo) B is a major protein component of plasma very low-density and low-density lipoproteins (VLDL and LDL, respectively) and serves as a recognition signal for the cellular binding and internalization of LDL by the apoB/E receptor. In contrast to the situation in mammals, avian apoB is also a component of specialized VLDL particles that are produced by the liver in response to estrogen. These particles transport cholesterol and triglyceride from the liver to the ovary for deposition in egg yolk. We report here the identification and characterization of cDNA clones for chicken apoB and their use in examining the tissue distribution and hormonal regulation of chicken apoB mRNA. The cDNA clones were identified by immunological screening of a phage lambda gt11 library constructed with hen liver mRNA and their identity was supported by sequence comparisons with mammalian apoB. The chicken apoB mRNA is approximately the same size as mammalian apoB mRNA (14 kb), and, as occurs in mammals, is present at high levels in liver and small intestine. Unlike mammals, the chicken apoB mRNA is also found at high levels in the kidney, consistent with previous protein biosynthetic studies. A DNA-excess solution-hybridization assay was used to quantitate apoB mRNA in these tissues and to examine its hormonal regulation. In control roosters the liver and kidney contained 65% and 10%, respectively, as much apoB mRNA as the small intestine. Within 24 h after estradiol administration, apoB mRNA was increased five- to seven-fold in liver but was unchanged in intestine and kidney. The increase in apoB mRNA content and the kinetics of induction parallel hepatic apoB synthesis, indicating that estrogen regulates apoB production through changes in the cellular abundance of apoB mRNA. The apoB mRNA increased rapidly following hormone treatment while the mRNA for another VLDL protein (apoII) showed a lag or slow phase of several hours before significant mRNA accumulation occurred. These data indicate that the liver can respond immediately to estrogen to increase apoB mRNA accumulation, while apoII mRNA accumulation appears to involve additional events or signals which occur slowly and are specific to this gene.     

The DEK Oncogene Is a Target of Steroid Hormone Receptor Signaling in Breast Cancer

Expression of estrogen and progesterone hormone receptors indicates a favorable prognosis due to the successful use of hormonal therapies such as tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors. Unfortunately, 15–20% of patients will experience breast cancer recurrence despite continued use of tamoxifen. Drug resistance to hormonal therapies is of great clinical concern so it is imperative to identify novel molecular factors that contribute to tumorigenesis in hormone receptor positive cancers and/or mediate drug sensitivity. The hope is that targeted therapies, in combination with hormonal therapies, will improve survival and prevent recurrence. We have previously shown that the DEK oncogene, which is a chromatin remodeling protein, supports breast cancer cell proliferation, invasion and the maintenance of the breast cancer stem cell population. In this report, we demonstrate that DEK expression is associated with positive hormone receptor status in primary breast cancers and is up-regulated in vitro following exposure to the hormones estrogen, progesterone, and androgen. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments identify DEK as a novel estrogen receptor α (ERα) target gene whose expression promotes estrogen-induced proliferation. Finally, we report for the first time that DEK depletion enhances tamoxifen-induced cell death in ER+ breast cancer cell lines. Together, our data suggest that DEK promotes the pathogenesis of ER+ breast cancer and that the targeted inhibition of DEK may enhance the efficacy of conventional hormone therapies.     

Chemical Forms of Selenium in the Metal-Resistant Bacterium Ralstonia metallidurans CH34 Exposed to Selenite and Selenate

Ralstonia metallidurans CH34, a soil bacterium resistant to a variety of metals, is known to reduce selenite to intracellular granules of elemental selenium (Se⁰). We have studied the kinetics of selenite (Se^IV) and selenate (Se^VI) accumulation and used X-ray absorption spectroscopy to identify the accumulated form of selenate, as well as possible chemical intermediates during the transformation of these two oxyanions. When introduced during the lag phase, the presence of selenite increased the duration of this phase, as previously observed. Selenite introduction was followed by a period of slow uptake, during which the bacteria contained Se⁰ and alkyl selenide in equivalent proportions. This suggests that two reactions with similar kinetics take place: an assimilatory pathway leading to alkyl selenide and a slow detoxification pathway leading to Se⁰. Subsequently, selenite uptake strongly increased (up to 340 mg Se per g of proteins) and Se⁰ was the predominant transformation product, suggesting an activation of selenite transport and reduction systems after several hours of contact. Exposure to selenate did not induce an increase in the lag phase duration, and the bacteria accumulated approximately 25-fold less Se than when exposed to selenite. Se^IV was detected as a transient species in the first 12 h after selenate introduction, Se⁰ also occurred as a minor species, and the major accumulated form was alkyl selenide. Thus, in the present experimental conditions, selenate mostly follows an assimilatory pathway and the reduction pathway is not activated upon selenate exposure. These results show that R. metallidurans CH34 may be suitable for the remediation of selenite-, but not selenate-, contaminated environments.     

Chitin synthesis in larval and pupal epidermis of the Indian meal moth,Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), and the greater wax moth,Galleria mellonella (L.)

The level of chitin synthesis was determined in whole last-instar larvae and in pupae of Plodia interpunctella, and in epidermal tissue from similar stages of Galleria mellonella. The incorporation of radiolabelled N-acetyl-d-glucosamine into chitin was used to measure synthesis. Chitin production was similar in both species with peaks of synthesis occurring at the beginning of the last larval instar, in prepupae, in white pupae and prior to adult emergence. P. interpunctella also exhibited an additional small increase at mid-instar. Exposure of larval epidermis of P. interpunctella to 20-hydroxyecdysone in vitro stimulated chitin synthesis, but only after a 24 hr lag period subsequent to exposure to the hormone. This hormonal stimulation of chitin synthesis was inhibited by actinomycin-D and cycloheximide which suggested that 20-hydroxyecdysone-stimulated production of chitin depended on synthesis of RNA and protein. Comparison of the synthesis of chitin in epidermis of G. mellonella with previously published ecdysone titres, indicated that chitin production in vivo is preceded by an elevated ecdysone titre.     

Glucocorticoid hormones are successively present in two sites with different accessibilities to nucleases in chromatin from HTC cells

Glucocorticoid hormones induce tyrosine aminotransferase synthesis in HTC cells after a lag of approximately 2 h. The question arises whether this lag corresponds to chromatin modifications related to the binding of the hormone. We have analyzed the accessibility to DNases of the hormone binding sites in chromatin from HTC cells incubated for various times in the presence of the hormone. After short incubations the hormone-receptor binding sites in chromatin are accessible to DNases, after longer incubations they become resistant to DNase digestion. The kinetics of the release in vivo of the hormone-receptor complex in an hormone free medium suggests the existence of 2 discrete classes of hormone binding sites in chromatin.     

Oxidation of high density lipoproteins: characterization and effects on cholesterol efflux from J774 macrophages

Oxidative modification of high density lipoproteins (HDL) may alter their capacity to mediate cellular cholesterol efflux. We studied the kinetics of copper-mediated oxidation of HDL and cholesterol efflux mediated by unmodified and oxidized HDL (oxHDL). Oxidation was measured by increases in absorbance at 234 nm (ΔA234), production of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and loss of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid reactivity. Oxidation was dependent on copper concentration and showed a lag phase and propagation phase. Efflux of cholesterol from J774 macrophages measured by appearance of cellular [³H]cholesterol in the medium was lower by 16% after 4 h and 36% after 24 h with oxHDL compared to HDL. OxHDL-mediated efflux was also lower by 27% to 36% at lipoprotein concentrations of 10 to 200 μg protein/ml. Cholesterol efflux correlated negatively with TBARS production (r= −0.97, P < 0.003) and ΔA234 (r = −0.77, P < 0.080). There was no difference in efflux mediated by apoproteins prepared from HDL and oxHDL. Efflux measured by change in cholesterol mass in medium was 78% lower with oxHDL. Inhibition of oxidation with butylated hydroxytoluene maintained the capacity of HDL to stimulate efflux. These results suggest that oxidation of HDL may impair its protective role against atherosclerosis.     

FLAGELLAR REGENERATION IN PROTOZOAN FLAGELLATES

The flagella of populations of three protozoan species (Ochromonas, Euglena, and Astasia) were amputated and allowed to regenerate. The kinetics of regeneration in all species were characterized by a lag phase during which there was no apparent flagellar elongation; this phase was followed by elongation at a rate which constantly decelerated as the original length was regained. Inhibition by cycloheximide applied at the time of flagellar amputation showed that flagellar regeneration was dependent upon de novo protein synthesis. This was supported by evidence showing that a greater amount of leucine was incorporated into the proteins of regenerating than nonregenerating flagella. The degree of inhibition of flagellar elongation observed with cycloheximide depended on how soon after flagellar amputation it was applied: when applied to cells immediately following amputation, elongation was almost completely inhibited, but its application at various times thereafter permitted considerable elongation to occur prior to complete inhibition of flagellar elongation. Hence, a sufficient number of precursors were synthesized and accumulated prior to addition of cycloheximide so that their assembly (elongation) could occur for a time under conditions in which protein synthesis had been inhibited. Evidence that the site of this assembly may be at the tip of the elongating flagellum was obtained from radioautographic studies in which the flagella of Ochromonas were permitted to regenerate part way in the absence of labeled leucine and to complete their regeneration in the presence of the isotope. Possible mechanisms which may be operating to control flagellar regeneration are discussed in light of these and other observations.     

Estrogen modulation of osteoblastic cell-to-cell communication

Two osteoblastic cell populations, calvarial and marrow stromal cells, were exposed to estrogen derivatives in vitro. The hormonal effect was monitored by following intracellular Ca⁺² levels [Ca⁺²]_i and gap-junction communication. We measured fast changes in intracellular Ca⁺² levels in response, of these cells, to the steroid hormones. The changes were dose dependent revealing maximal activity at 100 pM by 17-β-Estradiol and 1 nM by estradiol-CMO. Additionally, the effect of estrogen, on functional coupling of the cells, was measured using fluorescence dye migration and counting the number of neighboring cells coupled by gap junctions. An uncoupling effect was demonstrated in response of these cells to estrogen treatment. The quick stereospecific effect was achieved in the presence of 17-β-estradiol but not in the presence of 17-α-estradiol. These results suggest the involvement of plasma membrane receptors in addition to the already known nuclear receptors in transducing the hormone effects in the osteoblastic cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 69:282–290, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.