scholarly journals The Distinct Agonistic Properties of the Phenylpyrazolosteroid Cortivazol Reveal Interdomain Communication within the Glucocorticoid Receptor

2005 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 1110-1124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noritada Yoshikawa ◽  
Keiko Yamamoto ◽  
Noriaki Shimizu ◽  
Sachiko Yamada ◽  
Chikao Morimoto ◽  
...  

Abstract Recent structural analyses of the nuclear receptors establish a paradigm of receptor activation, in which agonist binding induces the ligand binding domain (LBD)/activation function-2 helix to form a charge clamp for coactivator recruitment. However, these analyses have not sufficiently addressed the mechanisms for differential actions of various synthetic steroids in terms of fine tuning of multiple functions of whole receptor molecules. In the present study, we used the glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-specific agonist cortivazol (CVZ) to probe the plasticity and functional modularity of the GR. Structural docking analysis revealed that although CVZ is more bulky than other agonists, it can be accommodated in the ligand binding pocket of the GR by reorientation of several amino acid side chains but without major alterations in the active conformation of the LBD. In this induced fit model, the phenylpyrazole A-ring of CVZ establishes additional contacts with helices 3 and 5 of the LBD that may contribute to a more stable LBD configuration. Structural and functional analysis revealed that CVZ is able to compensate for the deleterious effects of a C-terminal deletion of the LBD in a manner that mimics the stabilizing influence of the F602S point mutation. CVZ-mediated productive recruitment of transcriptional intermediary factor 2 to the C-terminally deleted LBD requires the receptor’s own DNA binding domain and is positively influenced by the N-terminal regions of GR or progesterone receptor. These results support a model where ligand-dependent conformational changes in the LBD play a role in GR-mediated gene regulation via modular interaction with the DBD and activation function-1.

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darrell E. Hurt ◽  
Shigeru Suzuki ◽  
Takafumi Mayama ◽  
Evangelia Charmandari ◽  
Tomoshige Kino

Abstract Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene mutations may cause familial or sporadic generalized glucocorticoid resistance syndrome. Most of the missense forms distribute in the ligand-binding domain and impair its ligand-binding activity and formation of the activation function (AF)-2 that binds LXXLL motif-containing coactivators. We performed molecular dynamics simulations to ligand-binding domain of pathologic GR mutants to reveal their structural defects. Several calculated parameters including interaction energy for dexamethasone or the LXXLL peptide indicate that destruction of ligand-binding pocket (LBP) is a primary character. Their LBP defects are driven primarily by loss/reduction of the electrostatic interaction formed by R611 and T739 of the receptor to dexamethasone and a subsequent conformational mismatch, which deacylcortivazol resolves with its large phenylpyrazole moiety and efficiently stimulates transcriptional activity of the mutant receptors with LBP defect. Reduced affinity of the LXXLL peptide to AF-2 is caused mainly by disruption of the electrostatic bonds to the noncore leucine residues of this peptide that determine the peptide's specificity to GR, as well as by reduced noncovalent interaction against core leucines and subsequent exposure of the AF-2 surface to solvent. The results reveal molecular defects of pathologic mutant receptors and provide important insights to the actions of wild-type GR.


2001 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 1659-1688 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santosh T. Menon ◽  
May Han ◽  
Thomas P. Sakmar

The crystal structure of rod cell visual pigment rhodopsin was recently solved at 2.8-Å resolution. A critical evaluation of a decade of structure-function studies is now possible. It is also possible to begin to explain the structural basis for several unique physiological properties of the vertebrate visual system, including extremely low dark noise levels as well as high gain and color detection. The ligand-binding pocket of rhodopsin is remarkably compact, and several apparent chromophore-protein interactions were not predicted from extensive mutagenesis or spectroscopic studies. The transmembrane helices are interrupted or kinked at multiple sites. An extensive network of interhelical interactions stabilizes the ground state of the receptor. The helix movement model of receptor activation, which might apply to all G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) of the rhodopsin family, is supported by several structural elements that suggest how light-induced conformational changes in the ligand-binding pocket are transmitted to the cytoplasmic surface. The cytoplasmic domain of the receptor is remarkable for a carboxy-terminal helical domain extending from the seventh transmembrane segment parallel to the bilayer surface. Thus the cytoplasmic surface appears to be approximately the right size to bind to the transducin heterotrimer in a one-to-one complex. Future high-resolution structural studies of rhodopsin and other GPCRs will form a basis to elucidate the detailed molecular mechanism of GPCR-mediated signal transduction.


2009 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 1231-1241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ravi Jasuja ◽  
Jagadish Ulloor ◽  
Christopher M. Yengo ◽  
Karen Choong ◽  
Andrei Y. Istomin ◽  
...  

Abstract Ligand-induced conformational perturbations in androgen receptor (AR) are important in coactivator recruitment and transactivation. However, molecular rearrangements in AR ligand-binding domain (AR-LBD) associated with agonist binding and their kinetic and thermodynamic parameters are poorly understood. We used steady-state second-derivative absorption and emission spectroscopy, pressure and temperature perturbations, and 4,4′-bis-anilinonaphthalene 8-sulfonate (bis-ANS) partitioning to determine the kinetics and thermodynamics of the conformational changes in AR-LBD after dihydrotestosterone (DHT) binding. In presence of DHT, the second-derivative absorption spectrum showed a red shift and a change in peak-to-peak distance. Emission intensity increased upon DHT binding, and center of spectral mass was blue shifted, denoting conformational changes resulting in more hydrophobic environment for tyrosines and tryptophans within a more compact DHT-bound receptor. In pressure perturbation calorimetry, DHT-induced energetic stabilization increased the Gibbs free energy of unfolding to 8.4 ± 1.3 kcal/mol from 3.5 ± 1.6 kcal/mol. Bis-ANS partitioning studies revealed that upon DHT binding, AR-LBD underwent biphasic rearrangement with a high activation energy (13.4 kcal/mol). An initial, molten globule-like burst phase (k ∼30 sec−1) with greater solvent accessibility was followed by rearrangement (k ∼0.01 sec−1), leading to a more compact conformation than apo-AR-LBD. Molecular simulations demonstrated unique sensitivity of tyrosine and tryptophan residues during pressure unfolding with rearrangement of residues in the coactivator recruitment surfaces distant from the ligand-binding pocket. In conclusion, DHT binding leads to energetic stabilization of AR-LBD domain and substantial rearrangement of residues distant from the ligand-binding pocket. DHT binding to AR-LBD involves biphasic receptor rearrangement including population of a molten globule-like intermediate state.


1999 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 8146-8157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynn A. Sheldon ◽  
Catharine L. Smith ◽  
Jack E. Bodwell ◽  
Allan U. Munck ◽  
Gordon L. Hager

ABSTRACT We utilized the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) long terminal repeat (LTR) in vivo to understand how the interaction of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) with a nucleosome-assembled promoter allows access of factors required for the transition from a repressed promoter to a derepressed, transcriptionally competent promoter. A mutation (C644G) in the ligand binding domain (LBD) of the mouse GR has provided information regarding the steps required in the derepression/activation process and in the functional significance of the two major transcriptional activation domains, AF1 and AF2. The mutant GR activates transcription from a transiently transfected promoter that has a disordered nucleosomal structure, though significantly less well than the wild-type GR. With an integrated, replicated promoter, which is assembled in an ordered nucleosomal array, the mutant GR does not activate transcription, and it fails to induce chromatin remodeling of the MMTV LTR promoter, as indicated by nuclease accessibility assays. Together, these findings support a two-step model for the transition of a nucleosome-assembled, repressed promoter to its transcriptionally active, derepressed form. In addition, we find that the C-terminal GR mutation is dominant over the transcription activation function of the N-terminal GR activation domain. These findings suggest that the primary activation function of the C-terminal activation domain is different from the function of the N-terminal activation domain and that it is required for derepression of the chromatin-repressed MMTV promoter.


Biochemistry ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 33 (20) ◽  
pp. 6100-6109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. Danielson ◽  
Hans-Peter Biemann ◽  
Daniel E. Koshland ◽  
Joseph J. Falke

2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (18) ◽  
pp. 8273-8284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fuzhong F. Zheng ◽  
Ray-Chang Wu ◽  
Carolyn L. Smith ◽  
Bert W. O'Malley

ABSTRACT SRC-3/AIB1/ACTR/pCIP/RAC3/TRAM1 is a primary transcriptional coregulator for estrogen receptor (ER). Six SRC-3 phosphorylation sites have been identified, and these can be induced by steroids, cytokines, and growth factors, involving multiple kinase signaling pathways. Using phosphospecific antibodies for six phosphorylation sites, we investigated the mechanisms involved in estradiol (E2)-induced SRC-3 phosphorylation and found that this occurs only when either activated estrogen receptor α (ERα) or activated ERβ is present. Both the activation function 1 and the ligand binding domains of ERα are required for maximal induction. Mutations in the coactivator binding groove of the ERα ligand binding domain inhibit E2-stimulated SRC-3 phosphorylation, as do mutations in the nuclear receptor-interacting domain of SRC-3, suggesting that ERα must directly contact SRC-3 for this posttranslational modification to take place. A transcriptionally inactive ERα mutant which localizes to the cytoplasm supports E2-induced SRC-3 phosphorylation. Mutations of the ERα DNA binding domain did not block this rapid E2-dependent SRC-3 phosphorylation. Together these data demonstrate that E2-induced SRC-3 phosphorylation is dependent on a direct interaction between SRC-3 and ERα and can occur outside of the nucleus. Our results provide evidence for an early nongenomic action of ER on SRC-3 that supports the well-established downstream genomic roles of estrogen and coactivators.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. e92716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tino Wolter ◽  
Thomas Steinbrecher ◽  
Dirk Trauner ◽  
Marcus Elstner

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soria Iatmanen-Harbi ◽  
lucile Senicourt ◽  
Vassilios Papadopoulos ◽  
Olivier Lequin ◽  
Jean-Jacques Lacapere

The optimization of translocator protein (TSPO) ligands for Positron Emission Tomography as well as for the modulation of neurosteroids is a critical necessity for the development of TSPO-based diagnostics and therapeutics of neuropsychiatrics and neurodegenerative disorders. Structural hints on the interaction site and ligand binding mechanism are essential for the development of efficient TSPO ligands. Recently published atomic structures of recombinant mammalian and bacterial TSPO1, bound with either the high-affinity drug ligand PK 11195 or protoporphyrin IX, have revealed the membrane protein topology and the ligand binding pocket. The ligand is surrounded by amino acids from the five transmembrane helices as well as the cytosolic loops. However, the precise mechanism of ligand binding remains unknown. Previous biochemical studies had suggested that ligand selectivity and binding was governed by these loops. We performed site-directed mutagenesis to further test this hypothesis and measured the binding affinities. We show that aromatic residues (Y34 and F100) from the cytosolic loops contribute to PK 11195 access to its binding site. Limited proteolytic digestion, circular dichroism and solution two-dimensional (2-D) NMR using selective amino acid labelling provide information on the intramolecular flexibility and conformational changes in the TSPO structure upon PK 11195 binding. We also discuss the differences in the PK 11195 binding affinities and the primary structure between TSPO (TSPO1) and its paralogous gene product TSPO2.


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