Analysis of photoaffinity label derivatives to probe thyroid hormone receptor in human fibroblasts, GH1 cells, and soluble receptor preparations

The regulation of growth hormone gene expression by thyroid hormone in cultured GH1 cells is mediated by a chromatin-associated receptor. We have previously described a photoaffinity label derivative of 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine (L-T3) in which the alanine side chain was modified to form N-2-diazo-3,3,3-trifluoropropionyl-L-T3 (L-125I]T3-PAL). On exposure to 254 nm UV light, L-125I]T3-PAL generates a carbene which covalently modifies two thyroid hormone receptor forms in intact GH1 cells; an abundant 47,000 Mr species and a less abundant 57,000 Mr form. We have now synthesized similar photoaffinity label derivatives of 3,5,3',5'-tetraiodo-L-thyronine (L-T4) and 3,3',5'-triiodo-L-thyronine (L-rT3). Both compounds identify the same receptor forms in intact cells and in nuclear extracts in vitro as L-125I]T3-PAL. Labeling by L-125I]rT3-PAL was low and consistent with the very low occupancy of receptor by L-rT3. Underivatized L-125I]T3 and L-125I]T4 labeled the same receptor forms at 254 nm but at a markedly lower efficiency than their PAL derivatives. In contrast, N-bromoacetyl-L-125I]T3, a chemical affinity labeling agent, did not derivatize either receptor form in vitro. The relative efficiency of coupling to receptor at 254 nm was L-125I]T4-PAL greater than L-125I]T3-PAL greater than L-125I]T4 greater than L-125I]T3. Although L-125I]T4-PAL has a lower affinity for receptor than L-125I]T3-PAL, its coupling efficiency was 5-10-fold higher. This suggests that the alanine side chain of L-125I]T4-PAL is positioned in the ligand binding region near a residue which is efficiently modified by photoactivation. With L-125I]T4-PAL we were able to identify three different molecular weight receptor species in human fibroblast nuclei.