Binding of triiodothyronine to the nuclear matrix of the rat liver. The effect of thyroid hormones on the phosphorylation of nuclear matrix proteins

The interaction of thyroid hormones with rat liver nuclear matrix proteins was studied. It was shown that the nuclear matrix contains the sites which bind triiodothyronine with a high affinity (Ka = 1.07 X 10(9) M-1) and limited capacity (maximal binding capacity--28.5 fmol triiodothyronine/100 micrograms protein). Electrophoretic analysis of triiodothyronine-binding matrix proteins revealed that the molecular mass of the major triiodothyronine-binding fraction is 50 000-52 000 Da. Injections of triiodothyronine to thyroidectomized animals stimulated the phosphorylation of all protein fractions of the nuclear matrix.