Reconstitution of retinoid X receptor function and combinatorial regulation of other nuclear hormone receptors in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

L-Thyroxine induces thermotolerance in yeast

The cellular stress response (CSR) is a universal inducible reaction modulated, among others, by heat, drugs, and hormones. We aimed to investigate the role of L-thyroxine (T4) on the heat shock (HS) response in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The CSR was evaluated by determining growth and viability of post-logarithmic phase grown yeast cultures after HS at 53 °C for 30 min. We found that long-term T4 exposure can induce a dose-dependent and Hsp90 and H+ trafficking-related thermotolerance in yeast.

Cross-talk between thyroid hormone and specific retinoid X receptor subtypes in yeast selectively regulates cognate ligand actions

Thyroid (T3) hormone beta1 (TR) and 9-cis retinoic acid (9c-RA) retinoid X receptors (RXR) can form heterodimer complexes that bind to hormone response elements (HREs) in target genes to either activate or repress transcription. However, the action of each cognate ligand and the accessory cellular factors that can differentially regulate the transcriptional responses of a heterodimer-DNA complex are not well understood. Studies in most mammalian cell lines have demonstrated that 9c-RA cannot bind or transactivate TR/RXR-T3 response element (TRE) complexes. In contrast, when identical heterodimer complexes were coexpressed in the yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) with single copy typical TREs [i.e., DR+4 (direct repeat), F2 (everted repeat), or PAL (inverted repeat) DNA response elements] we observed that i) unliganded TRbeta1 homodimers had constitutive action on F2 and PAL but not DR4 TREs; ii) TRbeta1 homodimer responsivity to T3 ligand was relatively weak (less than twofold) and was only demonstrable on F2 but not PAL or DR4-TREs, whereas TRbeta1 heterodimers responded to T3 when RXRgamma but not RXR alpha was the heterodimeric partner; iii) RXR responsivity to 9c-RA (three- to sixfold) could be demonstrated only on palindromic TREs that could be enhanced by TRbeta1 on all TREs; iv) T3 + 9c-RA ligands increased (additively or synergistically) transactivation when RXRgamma but not alpha heterodimerized with TRbeta1 on both typical as well as atypical (DR1, DR3, DR5, and F2M) TREs. Substitutions for wild-type TRbeta1 of C-terminus mutants deficient in dimerization with RXRs abrogated the anticipated single and dual cognate ligand-induced effects on TRbeta1/RXRgamma transactivation of DR4 TREs, whereas mutants with preserved dimerization function but impaired T3 transactivation regions could maintain an enhanced 9c-RA response but were devoid of the anticipated T3 and dual (T3 + 9c-RA) cognate ligand-induced effects. Thus, the ligand-inducible response of TR and RXR homodimers expressed in yeast are relatively weak but can be further enhanced by TRbeta1 cross-talk with specific RXR subtypes in the presence of both cognate ligands.

Human nuclear receptor heterodimers: opportunities for detecting targets of transcriptional regulation using yeast

Nuclear receptors are model transcription factors. This highly conserved superfamily of ligand binding transcription factors includes estrogen, progesterone, retinoic acid, thyroid hormone, vitamin D receptors, and several orphan receptors. Nuclear receptors function as homodimers, heterodimers, or monomers. Human thyroid hormone, retinoic acid, vitamin D, and several orphan receptors prefer to work as heterodimers with retinoic X receptor (RXR). RXR function is regulated by its cognate ligand 9-cisretinoic acid. In some cases heterodimers of RXR are subject to regulation by two different ligands. Mammalian cells are not entirely suited to study pure heterodimeric functions because they contain a repertoire of endogenous receptors and their ligands. Yeast does not contain nuclear receptors or its ligands. Ligand-dependent function of several human nuclear receptors has been reconstructed in yeast. Yeast can be used as a model system to dissect interaction between various heterodimeric partners. The molecular genetics and the speed of doing the experiments in yeast allows us to rapidly clone mammalian cofactors that prefer to work with different heterodimeric partners. Once the human genome sequence is complete, we predict that the total number of human nuclear receptors will increase from 150 to 500. Novel and efficient cell-based systems will be needed to understand the function of orphan receptors. Yeast is an ideal system to identify pure heterodimeric partners and discover novel ligands for orphan receptors. The advantages and disadvantages of yeast and mammalian system to study nuclear receptor function are discussed.

Transactivation by PPAR/RXR heterodimers in yeast is potentiated by exogenous fatty acid via a pathway requiring intact peroxisomes

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are orphan members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. PPARs bind to cognate response elements through heterodimerization with retinoid X receptors (RXRs). Together PPAR/RXR regulate the transcription of genes for which products are involved in lipid homeostasis, cell growth, and differentiation. PPARs are activated by fatty acids and by nongenotoxic rodent hepatocarcinogens called peroxisome proliferators through as of yet undefined signal transduction pathways. In an effort to elucidate the requirements for PPAR function and the pathways of its activation, we expressed mouse PPAR alpha and human RXR alpha in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mouse PPAR alpha and human RXR alpha had little activity individually in yeast; however, when cosynthesized, they were able to synergistically activate transcription via cognate response elements. Transactivation was independent of exogenously added activators of either receptor but was potentiated by the addition of petroselinic acid, a fatty acid shown to activate PPARs in mammalian cells. Similar experiments were carried out in a mutant yeast strain lacking peroxisomes entirely or in a mutant strain deficient for 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase, the final enzyme of the peroxisomal beta-oxidation cascade. The findings showed that constitutive transactivation by PPAR/RXR did not require the complete beta-oxidation pathway or intact peroxisomes but required intact peroxisomes for potentiation by exogenously added petroselinic acid. This study demonstrates that at least part of the mammalian peroxisome proliferator-signaling pathway can be faithfully reconstituted in yeast and that activation of PPAR by at least one particular fatty acid requires the integrity of peroxisomes.

Recombinant Microorganisms as Tools for High Throughput Screening for Nonantibiotic Compounds

Microorganisms were among the first tools used for the discovery of biologically active compounds. Their utility reached a zenith during the era of antibiotic development in the 1950s and 1960s, then declined. Subsequently, a substantial role for microorganisms in the pharmaceutical industry developed with the realization that microbial fermentations were intriguing sources of nonantibiotic natural products. From recombinant DNA technology emerged another important role for microorganisms in pharmaceutical research: the expression of heterologous proteins for therapeutic products or for in vitro high throughput screens (HTSs). Recent developments in cloning, genetics, and expression systems have opened up new applications for recombinant microorganisms in screening for nonantibiotic compounds in HTSs. These screens employ microorganisms that depend upon the function of a heterologous protein for survival under defined nutritional conditions. Compounds that specifically target the heterologous protein can be identified by measuring viability of the microorganism under different nutrient selection. Advantages of this approach include a built-in selection for target selectivity, an easily measured end point that can be used for a multitude of different targets, and compatibility with automation required for HTSs. Mechanism-based HTSs using recombinant microorganisms can also address drug targets that are not readily approachable in other HTS formats, including certain enzymes; ion channels and transporters; and protein::protein, protein::DNA, and protein::RNA interactions.

Heterodimers of retinoic acid receptors and thyroid hormone receptors display unique combinatorial regulatory properties

Nuclear receptors are ligand-regulated transcription factors that regulate key aspects of metazoan development, differentiation, and homeostasis. Nuclear receptors recognize target genes by binding to specific DNA recognition sequences, denoted hormone response elements (HREs). Many nuclear receptors can recognize HREs as either homodimers or heterodimers. Retinoid X receptors (RXRs), in particular, serve as important heterodimer partners for many other nuclear receptors, including thyroid hormone receptors (TRs), and RXR/TR heterodimers have been proposed to be the primary mediators of target gene regulation by T3 hormone. Here, we report that the retinoic acid receptors (RARs), a distinct class of nuclear receptors, are also efficient heterodimer partners for TRs. These RAR/TR heterodimers form with similar affinities as RXR/TR heterodimers on an assortment of consensus and natural HREs, and preferentially assemble with the RAR partner 5' of the TR moiety. The corepressor and coactivator recruitment properties of these RAR/TR heterodimers and their transcriptional activities in vivo are distinct from those observed with the corresponding RXR heterodimers. Our studies indicate that RXRs are not unique in their ability to partner with TRs, and that RARs can also serve as robust heterodimer partners and combinatorial regulators of T3-modulated gene expression.

A neuronal-specific differentiation protein that directly modulates retinoid receptor transcriptional activation

Background

The specificity of a nuclear receptor's ability to modulate gene expression resides in its ability to bind a specific lipophilic ligand, associate with specific dimerization partners and bind specific DNA sequences in the promoter regions of genes. This sequence of events appears to be the basis for targeting an additional regulatory complex composed of a variety of protein and RNA components that deliver signals for facilitation or inhibition of the RNA polymerase complex. Characterization of the tissue and cell-specific components of these coregulatory complexes appear to be integral to our understanding of nuclear receptor regulation of transcription.

Results

A novel yeast screen sensitive to retinoid-X receptor (RXR) transcriptional activation resulted in the isolation of the rat homologue of the mouse NPDC-1 gene. NPDC-1 has been shown to be involved in the control of neural cell proliferation and differentiation, possibly through interactions with the cell cycle promoting transcription factor E2F-1. Although the amino acid sequence of NPDC-1 is highly conserved between mouse, rat and human homologues, their tissue specific expression was seen to vary. A potential for direct protein:protein interaction between NPDC-1, RXR and retinoic acid receptor beta (RARβ) was observed in vitro and NPDC-1 facilitated RXR homodimer and RAR-RXR heterodimer DNA binding in vitro. Expression of NPDC-1 was also observed to repress transcription mediated by retinoid receptors as well as by several other nuclear receptor family members, although not in a universal manner.

Conclusions

These results suggest that NPDC-1, through direct interaction with retinoid receptors, functions to enhance the transcription complex formation and DNA binding function of retinoid receptors, but ultimately repress retinoid receptor-mediated gene expression. As with NPDC-1, retinoids and their receptors have been implicated in brain development and these data provide a point of convergence for NPDC-1 and retinoid mediation of neuronal differentiation.

Physiological and molecular basis of thyroid hormone action

Thyroid hormones (THs) play critical roles in the differentiation, growth, metabolism, and physiological function of virtually all tissues. TH binds to receptors that are ligand-regulatable transcription factors belonging to the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. Tremendous progress has been made recently in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie TH action. In this review, we present the major advances in our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of TH action and their implications for TH action in specific tissues, resistance to thyroid hormone syndrome, and genetically engineered mouse models.

Role of the essential yeast protein PSU1 in p6anscriptional enhancement by the ligand-dependent activation function AF-2 of nuclear receptors

Nuclear receptors (NRs) can function as ligandinducible transregulators in both mammalian and yeast cells, indicating that important features of transcriptional control have been conserved throughout evolution. We report here the isolation and characterization of an essential yeast protein of unknown function, PSU1, which exhibits properties expected for a co-activator/mediator of the ligand-dependent activation function AF-2 present in the ligand-binding domain (LBD, region E) of NRs. PSU1 interacts in a ligand-dependent manner with the LBD of several NRs, including retinoic acid (RARalpha), retinoid X (RXRalpha), thyroid hormone (TRalpha), vitamin D3 (VDR) and oestrogen (ERalpha) receptors. Importantly, both in yeast and in vitro, these interactions require the integrity of the AF-2 activating domain. When tethered to a heterologous DNA-binding domain, PSU1 can activate transcription on its own. By using yeast reporter cells that express PSU1 conditionally, we show that PSU1 is required for transactivation by the AF-2 of ERalpha. Taken together these data suggest that in yeast, PSU1 is involved in ligand-dependent transactivation by NRs. Sequence analysis revealed that in addition to a highly conserved motif found in a family of MutT-related proteins, PSU1 contains several alpha-helical leucine-rich motifs sharing the consensus sequence LLxPhiL (x, any amino acid; Phi, hydrophobic amino acid) in regions that elicit either transactivation or NR-binding activity.

Transcriptional regulation of the Bmp2 gene. Retinoic acid induction in F9 embryonal carcinoma cells and Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Bmp2, a highly conserved member of the transforming growth factor-beta gene family, is crucial for normal development. Retinoic acid, combined with cAMP analogs, sharply induces the Bmp2 mRNA during the differentiation of F9 embryonal carcinoma cells into parietal endoderm. Retinoic acid (RA) also induces the Bmp2 gene in chick limb buds. Since normal Bmp2 expression may require an endogenous retinoid signal and aberrant Bmp2 expression may cause some aspects of RA-induced teratogenesis, we studied the mechanism underlying the induction of Bmp2. Measurements of the Bmp2 mRNA half-life and nuclear run-on assays indicated that RA stimulated the transcription rate of the Bmp2 gene. The results of ribonuclease protection and primer extension assays indicated that Bmp2 transcription started 2,127 nucleotides upstream of the translation start site in F9 cells. To identify genetic elements controlling this transcription rate increase, upstream and downstream genomic sequences flanking the Bmp2 gene were screened using chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter genes in F9 cells and beta-galactosidase reporter genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that were cotransformed with retinoic acid receptor and retinoid X receptor expression plasmids. RA-dependent transcriptional activation was detected between base pairs -2,373 and -2,316 relative to the translation start site. We also identified a required Sp1 binding site between -2,308 and -2,298. The data indicate that Bmp2 is directly regulated by retinoic acid-bound receptors and Sp1.

Retinoic acid receptors interact physically and functionally with the T:G mismatch-specific thymine-DNA glycosylase

The pleiotropic effects of retinoids are mediated by nuclear receptors that are activated by 9-cis- or all-trans-retinoic acid to function as ligand-dependent transcription factors. In a yeast one-hybrid screen for proteins capable of interacting with native retinoic acid receptor (RAR), we have isolated the T:G mismatch-specific thymine-DNA glycosylase (TDG), which initiates the repair of T:G mismatches caused by spontaneous deamination of methylated cytosines. Here, we report that TDG can interact with RAR and the retinoid X receptor (RXR) in a ligand-independent manner, both in yeast and in vitro. Mapping of the binding sites revealed interaction with a region of the ligand binding domain harboring alpha-helix 1 in both RAR and RXR. In transient transfection experiments, TDG potentiated transactivation by RXR from a direct repeat element spaced by one nucleotide (DR1) and by RXR/RAR heterodimers from a direct repeat element spaced by five nucleotides (DR5). In vitro, TDG enhanced RXR and RXR/RAR binding to their response elements. These data indicate that TDG is not only a repair enzyme, but could also function in the control of transcription.

Genetic and biochemical analysis of p23 and ansamycin antibiotics in the function of Hsp90-dependent signaling proteins

The ubiquitous molecular chaperone Hsp90 acts in concert with a cohort of associated proteins to facilitate the functional maturation of a number of cellular signaling proteins, such as steroid hormone receptors and oncogene tyrosine kinases. The Hsp90-associated protein p23 is required for the assembly of functional steroid aporeceptor complexes in cell lysates, and Hsp90-binding ansamycin antibiotics disrupt the activity of Hsp90-dependent signaling proteins in cultured mammalian cells and prevent the association of p23 with Hsp90-receptor heterocomplexes; these observations have led to the hypotheses that p23 is required for the maturation of Hsp90 target proteins and that ansamycin antibiotics abrogate the activity of such proteins by disrupting the interaction of p23 with Hsp90. In this study, I demonstrate that ansamycin antibiotics disrupt the function of Hsp90 target proteins expressed in yeast cells; prevent the assembly of Sba1, a yeast p23-like protein, into steroid receptor-Hsp90 complexes; and result in the assembly of receptor-Hsp90 complexes that are defective for ligand binding. To assess the role of p23 in Hsp90 target protein function, I show that the activity of Hsp90 target proteins is unaffected by deletion of SBA1. Interestingly, steroid receptor activity in cells lacking Sba1 displays increased sensitivity to ansamycin antibiotics, and this phenotype is rescued by the expression of human p23 in yeast cells. These findings indicate that Hsp90-dependent signaling proteins can achieve a functional conformation in vivo in the absence of p23. Furthermore, while the presence of p23 decreases the sensitivity of Hsp90-dependent processes to ansamycin treatment, ansamycin antibiotics disrupt signaling through some mechanism other than altering the Hsp90-p23 interaction.

New assay technologies for high-throughput screening

The use of high-throughput screening for early stage drug discovery imposes several constraints on the format of assays for therapeutic targets of interest. Homogeneous cell-free assays based on energy transfer, fluorescence polarization spectroscopy or fluorescence correlation spectroscopy provide the sensitivity, ease, speed and resistance to interference from test compounds needed to function in a high-throughput screening mode. Similarly, novel cell-based assays are now being adapted for high-throughput screening, providing for in situ analysis of a variety of biological targets. Finally, recent advances in assay miniaturization mark a transition to ultra high-throughput screening, ensuring that identification of lead compounds will not be the rate-limiting step in finding new drugs.

The yeast Ada complex mediates the ligand-dependent activation function AF-2 of retinoid X and estrogen receptors

Nuclear receptors can function as ligand-inducible transregulators in both mammalian and yeast cells, indicating that important features of control of transcription have been conserved throughout evolution. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of a yeast protein that exhibits properties expected for a coactivator/mediator of the ligand-dependent activation function AF-2 present in the ligand-binding domain (LBD, region E) of the retinoid X (RXRalpha) and estrogen (ERalpha) receptors. This protein is identical to Ada3, a component of the yeast Ada coactivator complex. We demonstrate that: (1) the region encompassing residues 347-702 of Ada3 interacts with the LBD of RXRalpha and ERalpha in a ligand-dependent manner in yeast; (2) this interaction corresponds to a direct binding and requires the integrity of the core of the AF-2 activating domain (AF-2 AD) of both RXRalpha and ERalpha; (3) Ada3 as well as Ada2 and Gcn5, two other components of the Ada complex, are required for maximal AF-2 activity in yeast; and (4) Ada3 is able to enhance the AF-2 activity of RXRalpha and ERalpha when overexpressed in yeast and mammalian cells. Taken together, these data indicate that ligand-dependent transactivation by RXRalpha and ERalpha in yeast is mediated at least in part by the Ada complex, in which the Ada3 subunit directly binds to the holoreceptor LBD.

Thyroid hormone response element architecture affects corepressor release from thyroid hormone receptor dimers

Thyroid hormone receptors are ligand-modulated transcription factors that can repress or activate transcription depending upon the absence or presence of thyroid hormone and the nature of the hormone response element to which the receptors are bound. The ability of thyroid hormone receptors to repress transcription in the absence of ligand is thought to be due to associations with nuclear hormone receptor corepressors. Ligand binding by the thyroid hormone receptor is believed to dissociate these corepressors and recruit coactivators to promote transcription from target promoters. We hypothesize that variations in response element architecture may influence both the association and dissociation of corepressors from DNA-bound thyroid hormone receptors. Using a chimeric corepressor, we find that ligand alone does not fully relieve corepressor-mediated repression, particularly in the presence of thyroid hormone receptor and its heterodimerization partner, the retinoid X receptor. Interestingly, the steroid receptor coactivator 1 together with ligand is able to mediate full release of corepression, but this relief is dependent upon the architecture of the response element to which the nuclear receptor dimer-corepressor complex is bound. These studies suggest that other cellular factors in addition to ligand may be required for the release of corepressors from thyroid hormone receptor dimers.

Interaction between the retinoid X receptor and transcription factor IIB is ligand-dependent in vivo

The retinoid X receptor (RXR) influences gene activation through heterodimeric and homodimeric association with DNA and associates with TATA binding protein, TAF110, and cAMP response element-binding protein-binding protein; yet the molecular mechanisms responsible for gene activation by RXRs remain incompletely defined. Since the general transcription factor IIB (TFIIB) is a common target of sequence-specific transcriptional activators, we suspected that RXR might regulate target genes via an interaction with TFIIB. Coimmunoprecipitation, far Western analysis, and glutathione S-transferase binding studies indicated that murine RXR beta (mRXR beta) was capable of binding to human TFIIB in vitro. Functional analysis with a dual-hybrid yeast system and cotransfection assays revealed the interaction of mRXR beta with TFIIB to be ligand-dependent in vivo. Truncation experiments mapped the essential binding regions to the carboxyl region of mRXR beta (amino acids (aa) 254-389) and two regions in the carboxyl region of TFIIB (aa 178-201 and aa 238-271). Furthermore, the delta 390-410 mRXR beta mutant bound to TFIIB in vitro but was not active in the dual-hybrid yeast system, suggesting that the extreme carboxyl region of RXR was required for in vivo interaction with TFIIB. These data indicate that interaction of mRXR beta with TFIIB is specific, direct, and ligand-dependent in vivo and suggest that gene activation by RXR involves TFIIB.

A conformational switch in nuclear hormone receptors is involved in coupling hormone binding to corepressor release

Nuclear hormone receptors are ligand-regulated transcription factors that modulate gene expression in response to small, hydrophobic hormones, such as retinoic acid and thyroid hormone. The thyroid hormone and retinoic acid receptors typically repress transcription in the absence of hormone and activate it in the presence of hormone. Transcriptional repression is mediated, in part, through the ability of these receptors to physically associate with ancillary polypeptides called corepressors. We wished to understand the mechanism by which corepressors are recruited to unliganded nuclear hormone receptors and are released on the binding of hormone. We report here that an alpha-helical domain located at the thyroid hormone receptor C terminus appears to undergo a hormone-induced conformational change required for release of corepressor and that amino acid substitutions that abrogate this conformational change can impair or prevent corepressor release. In contrast, retinoid X receptors appear neither to undergo an equivalent conformational alteration in their C termini nor to release corepressor in response to cognate hormone, consistent with the distinct transcriptional regulatory properties displayed by this class of receptors.

Expression of the vitamin D and the retinoid X receptors in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: alternative in vivo models for ligand-induced transactivation

The transcription factors of the nuclear hormone receptor family regulate gene expression via a complex network of macromolecular interactions. The ligand dependent activity of the vitamin D receptor is of particular interest because it modulates gene expression by the heterodimeric interaction with retinoid X receptors. We report here that individual functions of the vitamin D receptor including DNA-binding, homo- and heterodimerization and transactivation can be reconstituted in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Interestingly, the simultaneous expression of the native vitamin D receptor and the retinoid X receptor beta resulted in a ligand independent transactivation of the lacZ reporter gene coupled to a mouse osteopontin vitamin D response element. However, homodimerization of the vitamin D receptor and heterodimerization were strongly enhanced upon ligand binding, when the receptors were expressed as fusion proteins with the Gal4 transcription factor in a yeast two-hybrid system. Furthermore, transactivating activity of a Gal4-fused vitamin D receptor was induced by vitamin D in a one-hybrid system devoid of retinoid X receptors. In addition, both Gal4-based systems behaved similar with regard to their dose-dependent response to vitamin D and related compounds when compared to the transcriptional activity of the vitamin D receptor in transiently transfected MCF-7 cells. Our results point out that specific ligands strongly enhanced receptor dimerization and induced transactivation in yeast and in MCF-7 cells. The constitutive transactivation by vitamin D receptor-retinoid X receptor heterodimers in yeast, depending on DNA binding of the receptors, strongly argues for the existence of cofactors, which are absent in yeast, but play a fundamental role in gene regulation in higher eukaryotic organisms.

Yeast hormone response element assays detect and characterize GRIP1 coactivator-dependent activation of transcription by thyroid and retinoid nuclear receptors

The mouse glucocorticoid receptor-interacting protein (GRIP1) is a member of the ERAP160 family of nuclear receptor (NR) coactivators (including SRC-1 and TIF2) which function as bridging proteins between ligand-activated NRs bound to cognate hormone-response elements (HREs) and the transcription initiation apparatus (TIA). Although these coactivators bind to several NRs, studies overexpressing these coactivators with these NRs in mammalian cells have not uniformly observed a corresponding enhancement of ligand-dependent transactivation. Here, we show that GRIP1 interacts in vitro in a ligand-dependent manner with thyroid receptor, retinoic acid receptor, and retinoid X receptor. Additionally, in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) GRIP1 coactivator protein markedly increased the ability of these full-length class II NRs to transactivate beta-galactosidase reporter genes containing cognate HREs. The magnitude of GRIP1 enhancement of liganded NR homodimer was dependent upon NR subtype and HRE configuration. For most HRE configurations, thyroid receptor and retinoic acid receptor homodimers were essentially unresponsive or very weakly active in the absence of GRIP1, but GRIP1 dramatically restored the ligand-dependent function of these NRs. Although GRIP1 exerted no significant effect on NR homodimers in the absence of their cognate ligands, it increased the transactivation of unliganded NR heterodimers. Whether GRIP1 increased ligand-dependent transactivation of a heterodimer to levels greater than that of the cognate homodimer was determined by HRE configuration and copy number. Compared with the limitations of yeast two-hybrid and mammalian coexpression systems, the yeast HRE-assay systems described in this report facilitated both the detection of putative mammalian NR coactivator function and the elucidation of their mechanisms of transactivational enhancement.

5'-flanking sequences in thyroid hormone response element half-sites determine the requirement of retinoid X receptor for receptor-mediated gene expression

Thyroid hormone receptors are ligand-inducible transcription factors that can potentially interact with thyroid hormone response elements as homodimers or heterodimers with the retinoid X receptor. It has generally been felt, however, that the heterodimer is responsible for induction of gene expression. We have demonstrated previously that the optimal thyroid hormone receptor binding sequence is not the consensus hexamer half-site AGGTCA but is an octamer, TAAGGTCA. Based upon these findings, we hypothesize that thyroid hormone response elements composed of optimal half-sites (TAAGGTCA) will bind thyroid hormone receptors readily and activate gene expression independently of the retinoid X receptor. In contrast, response elements composed of suboptimal half-sites (e.g. GCAGGTCA) will require the retinoid X receptor to facilitate thyroid hormone receptor-mediated gene expression. To test this hypothesis, we have reconstituted thyroid hormone receptor-mediated gene expression in yeast. Our studies confirm the hypothesis that the retinoid X receptor is required for gene expression from response elements composed of suboptimal half-sites, whereas thyroid hormone receptors are sufficient to activate gene expression maximally from response elements containing optimal half-sites. Furthermore, coexpression of steroid receptor coactivator-1 is required for ligand-dependent gene activation from single response elements. Surprisingly, however, coexpression of the retinoid X receptor decreases the steroid receptor coactivator-1-dependent thyroid hormone induction. Overall these data demonstrate that the architecture of the thyroid hormone response element dictates the nuclear receptor requirements for gene activation. The studies suggest that different coactivators may be required for gene activation depending upon the response element architecture and the nature of the bound thyroid hormone receptor complex (homo- versus heterodimer).

A Purkinje cell protein-2 intronic thyroid hormone response element binds developmentally regulated thyroid hormone receptor-nuclear protein complexes

Two thyroid hormone response elements (TREs), designated A1 TRE (-295/-268) and B1 TRE (+207/+227), have been identified within the Purkinje cell-expressed Pcp-2 gene. Previous studies have characterized the A1 TRE (Zou et al., 1994). This article analyzes the structural and functional characteristics of the intronic B1 TRE. The B1 sequence contains four overlapping TRE half-sites. The 3' DR4 motif, consisting of the second and forth half-sites, is responsible for the T3 induction observed with the B1 sequence. Gel-shift analysis reveals developmentally regulated complexes that are abundant in the fetus and at birth and then fall precipitously in the neonate bind to B1. The observed time-course of these complexes varies inversely with the rise in Pcp-2 expression, thus raising the possibility that the complexes may represent inhibitory factors. Supershift analysis indicates that endogenous TR alpha 1 is present in the fetal nuclear protein complexes that bind to B1. Competition analysis also indicates the second B1 TRE half-site is important in binding the TR alpha 1-TRAP complexes. These studies suggest that the B1 sequence may bind potential TR alpha 1-TRAP repressor complexes in the fetus, whereas in the neonate, these TRE sites may be involved in the activation of Pcp-2 by binding other TR-TRAP-activating complexes.

Activation and repression by nuclear hormone receptors: hormone modulates an equilibrium between active and repressive states

Transactivation-defective retinoid X and thyroid hormone receptors have been used to examine mechanisms of hormonal activation. Activation and repression of transcription by retinoid X and thyroid hormone receptors are shown to be mediated by physically distinct and functionally independent regions of the hormone binding domain. Nevertheless, the ability of receptors to respond to hormone requires communication between both functional domains. Deletion of the hormone-dependent transactivation function of the retinoid X receptor, the common subunit of heterodimeric nuclear receptors, significantly impairs hormone-dependent transcription by retinoic acid, thyroid hormone, and vitamin D receptors. The results indicate that receptors do not exist in static off and on conformations but that hormone alters an equilibrium between inactive and active states.

Differential transcriptional regulation of the apoAI gene by retinoic acid receptor homo- and heterodimers in yeast

Several members of the nuclear receptor superfamily including RXR (retinoid X receptor) bind to a specific retinoic acid response element (site A) of the apoAI promoter. However, transcriptional activation of the apoAI gene by different homo- and heterodimeric forms of RXR or RAR (retinoic acid receptors) cannot be evaluated in mammalian cells, which contain endogenous RXR or RAR. In order to circumvent this limitation, we assessed the DNA-binding activities and transcriptional activation of different homo- and heterodimers of these receptors in yeast. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) demonstrated that yeast expressed RARalpha does not bind to site A of the apoAl promoter, whereas binding of RARbeta to site A is ligand-dependent. Both RARalpha and RARbeta form heterodimers with RXRalpha and bind to site A with high affinity. These DNA-binding studies correlate with the transcriptional data, which indicated that RARbeta but not RARalpha activates transcription from site A in response equally well to 9-cis and all-trans retinoic acids. 9-cis RA is a more potent ligand than all-trans RA to activate transcription via RXR/RAR heterodimers. We conclude that this yeast expression system is a useful tool to elucidate the 'transactivation code' for apoAl site A via specific combinations of different homo and heterodimeric versions of RXR and RAR.

A role for Hsp90 in retinoid receptor signal transduction

The ubiquitous heat shock protein Hsp90 appears to participate directly in the function of a broad range of cellular signal transduction components, including steroid hormone receptors; however, an evolutionarily related subclass of intracellular receptors, exemplified by the retinoid receptors RAR and RXR, had been inferred from biochemical studies to function independently of Hsp90. To examine this issue genetically, we measured mammalian and avian retinoid receptor activity in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain in which the expression of the yeast Hsp90 homologue could be conditionally repressed approximately 20-fold relative to wild type. We tested transcriptional activation by RAR or RXR-RAR, from two types of retinoic acid response elements, triggered by three different agonist ligands. In every condition, we found that activation was severely compromised under conditions of low Hsp90 expression. We showed that the defect was in signal transduction rather than transcription activation per se, and that high affinity hormone binding was abolished in extracts of cells producing low levels of Hsp90. We suggest that Hsp90 may function in at least one step of signal transduction by all members of the intracellular receptor superfamily.

Application of retinol to human skin in vivo induces epidermal hyperplasia and cellular retinoid binding proteins characteristic of retinoic acid but without measurable retinoic acid levels or irritation

We investigated the clinical, histologic, and molecular responses of normal human skin to all-trans-retinol (ROL) application, compared to those induced by topical all-trans-retinoic acid (RA), and measured ROL-derived metabolites. Up to 1.6% ROL, 0.025% RA in vehicle (70% ethanol/30% propylene glycol), or vehicle alone were applied in a double-blind fashion to normal buttock skin and occluded for 4 d. ROL produced from none to only trace erythema, which was clinically and statistically insignificant, whereas RA induced a significant 3.7-fold increase in erythema score compared to vehicle (n = 10, p < 0.01). However, ROL induced significant epidermal thickening (1.5-fold at 1.6% ROL, p < 0.01), similar to RA (1.6-fold at 0.025% RA, p < 0.01), relative to the vehicle. ROL, compared with vehicle, also increased mRNA levels of cellular retinoic acid binding protein (CRABP-II) and cellular retinol binding protein (CRBP) genes as determined by Northern analysis (5-6-fold and 6-7-fold, respectively) and riboprobe in situ hybridization. CRABP-II and CRBP protein levels were also higher following ROL than vehicle treatment, as measured by ligand binding (3.2-fold, p < 0.001; n = 7) and Western analysis (3.6-fold, p < 0.003; n = 6), respectively. Epidermal retinyl ester (RE) content, measured after removal of stratum corneum, rose 240-fold (p < 0.005, n = 5) by 24 h of ROL occlusion. RA content, however, was undetectable or detectable only at trace amounts in all samples obtained at 0, 6, 24, and 96 h after ROL occlusion. Detectability of RA was not correlated with ROL treatment (compared to untreated normal skin, p = 0.86) or baseline skin ROL levels (average r = -0.1, p > 0.3). These data demonstrate that ROL application 1) produces trace erythema not significantly different from vehicle, whereas RA causes erythema; 2) induces epidermal thickening and enhances expression of CRABP-II and CRBP mRNAs and proteins as does RA; 3) causes marked accumulation of retinyl ester; and 4) does not significantly increase RA levels. Taken together, the data are compatible with the idea that ROL may be a prohormone of RA, because it produces changes in skin similar to those produced by RA but without measurable RA or irritation.

Exclusive homodimerization of the orphan receptor hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 defines a new subclass of nuclear receptors

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 (HNF-4), a highly conserved member of the steroid hormone receptor superfamily critical for development and liver-specific gene expression, is very similar to another superfamily member, retinoid X receptor alpha (RXR alpha), in overall amino acid sequence and DNA binding specificity. Since RXR alpha is known to heterodimerize with many other nuclear receptors, the formation of heterodimers between HNF-4 and RXR alpha was examined. With the electrophoretic mobility shift assay, coimmunoprecipitation, and transient transfection assays, it is shown that, unlike other nuclear receptors, HNF-4 does not form heterodimers with RXR alpha either in the presence or in the absence of DNA. We also show that in vitro-translated HNF-4 does not form heterodimeric complexes on DNA with a number of other receptors, including RXR beta, RXR gamma, retinoic acid receptor alpha, or thyroid hormone receptor alpha. To investigate the hypothesis that the lack of heterodimerization between HNF-4 and RXR alpha is due to a strong homodimerization activity of HNF-4, glycerol gradient sedimentation and kinetic analysis were used to show that HNF-4 is in fact a stable homodimer in solution. Finally, immunohistochemistry is used to show that the HNF-4 protein is found exclusively in the nuclei in both HepG2 cells, which express endogenous HNF-4, and transfected COS cells, which overexpress HNF-4. These findings lead us to propose that HNF-4 defines a new subclass of nuclear receptors which reside primarily in the nucleus and which bind DNA and regulate transcription as homodimers.

Evidence that retinoid X receptors mediate retinoid-dependent transcriptional activation of the retinoic acid receptor beta gene in S91 melanoma cells

S91 melanoma cells are growth arrested and differentiate when treated with retinoids. These processes correlate with expression of the retinoic acid receptor (RAR) beta gene, which is induced through a retinoic acid response element (beta RARE). We wished to determine which endogenous retinoid receptors (RARs and retinoid X receptors, RXRs) mediate induction of the RAR beta gene. We show that RXR alpha and RXR beta are constitutively expressed. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays with nuclear extracts show specific binding to the beta RARE (Complex I) in untreated cells, which can be supershifted by antibodies against RXRs but not by anti-RAR antibodies. After 48 h of treatment with retinoic acid, Complex I is replaced by a faster migrating Complex II, which can be supershifted by anti-RAR beta and anti-RXR alpha antibodies. This suggests that induction of the RAR beta gene is largely mediated by RXRs only. Accordingly, we also find that 9-cis RA, which activates both RAR and RXR, is a more potent inducer of the RAR beta gene than RA, which only activates RAR. After 48 h, all RXRs appear to be titrated by the newly synthesized RAR beta into an RAR beta.RXR heterodimer complex. Thus, it appears that the beta RARE is sequentially occupied by RXR dimers and RAR-RXR heterodimers.

Evidence for impaired retinoic acid receptor-thyroid hormone receptor AF-2 cofactor activity in human lung cancer

Retinoic acid (RA) is required for normal airway epithelial cell growth and differentiation both in vivo and in vitro. One of the earliest events following the exposure of bronchial epithelial cells to RA is the strong induction of RA receptor beta (RAR beta) mRNA. Previous work established that many lung cancer cell lines and primary tumors display abnormal RAR beta mRNA expression, most often absence or weak expression of the RAR beta 2 isoform, even after RA treatment. Restoration of RAR beta 2 into RAR beta-negative lung cancer cell lines has been reported to inhibit tumorigenicity. Since RAR beta 2 inactivation may contribute to lung cancer, we have investigated the molecular mechanism of defective RAR beta 2 expression. Nuclear run-on assays and transient transfections with RAR beta 2 promoter constructs indicate the presence of trans-acting transcriptional defects in most lung cancer cell lines, which map to the RA response element (RARE). These defects cannot be complemented by RAR-retinoid X receptor cotransfection and can be separated into two types: (i) one affecting transcription from direct repeat RAREs, but not palindromic RAREs, and (ii) another affecting transcription from both types of RARE. Studies using chimeras between RAR alpha, TR alpha, and other transcription factors suggest the existence of novel RAR-thyroid hormone receptor AF-2-specific cofactors, which are necessary for high levels of transcription. Furthermore, these factors may be frequently inactivated in human lung cancer.

Tissue-specific distribution of a novel C-terminal truncation retinoic acid receptor mutant which acts as a negative repressor in a promoter- and cell-type-specific manner

A cDNA clone which encodes a truncation form of the gamma subtype of the retinoic acid receptor (RAR gamma) has been isolated. The mutant RAR gamma (RAR gamma Bm382) has lost its 65 C-terminal amino acids, thus truncating a part of the dimerization and activation domains. By using a reverse transcription-coupled PCR technique, it was shown that RAR gamma Bm382 is expressed at different levels in various mouse tissues and that the level of its expression does not correlate with that of normal RAR gamma B. Cotransfection studies revealed that RAR gamma Bm382 acts as a repressor of normal RARs in a promoter- and cell-type-specific manner. Transcription of beta RARE and TREinv promoters was inhibited by RAR gamma Bm382 in both HeLa and F9 cells. Unlike these two promoters, however, RAR gamma Bm382 did not inhibit transcription of the TREpal promoter in HeLa cells but did so in F9 cells. Moreover, while transcription of the lamRARE promoter was inhibited by RAR gamma Bm382 in both HeLa and F9 cells, the inhibition was not observed when F9 cells were induced to differentiate with retinoic acid and dibutyryl cyclic AMP. DNA-binding analysis revealed that RAR gamma Bm382 is able to form a heterodimer with the retinoid X receptor and bind to the different types of retinoic acid response elements with almost the same efficiency as normal RAR. By comparison with effects of other truncation mutants created in vitro, it was suggested that the C-terminal end of the ligand binding domain of RAR is crucial for determining the specificity of transactivation by RAR. Given these observations, we discuss the possibility that protein factors which mediate retinoic acid response element- and cell-type-specific transactivation by RAR are present.

Genetic dissection of thyroid hormone receptor beta: identification of mutations that separate hormone binding and transcriptional activation

The thyroid hormone receptors (TR) are members of the nuclear receptor family of ligand-mediated transcription factors. The large region of TR that lies C-terminal to its DNA-binding domain subserves functions of ligand binding, dimerization, and transactivation. Little is known regarding the structural or functional determinants of these processes. We have utilized genetic screening in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to identify residues involved in these functions. Random mutations of the rat TR beta 1 isoform between amino acid residues 179 and 456 were screened, and mutants with reduced hormone-dependent activation of reporter gene activity were isolated. In this paper we describe the characterization of a class of mutants that exhibit a dissociation between hormone binding and transcriptional activation. These mutants retained hormone binding (> 15% of the wild-type level) yet failed to transactivate a reporter gene. A number of these mutations occurred within the D region, which links the DNA-binding and ligand-binding domains of the receptor. One subset of these mutations abrogated DNA binding, supporting a role of the D region in this process. The remainder retain DNA binding and thus highlight residues critical for receptor activation. In addition, an unexpected group of "superactivator" mutations that led to enhanced hormone-dependent activation in S. cerevisiae were found. These mutations localized to the carboxy-terminal portion of the receptor in a region which contains elements conserved across the superfamily of nuclear receptors. The hormone-dependent phenotype of these superactivator mutations suggests an important role of this segment in ligand-mediated transcriptional activation.

Endogenous retinoid X receptors can function as hormone receptors in pituitary cells

Retinoids regulate gene transcription by interacting with both retinoic acid (RA) receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs). Since unliganded RXRs can act as heterodimerization partners for RARs and other nuclear hormone receptors, it is unclear whether ligand binding by RXRs actually regulates the expression of naturally occurring genes. To address this issue, we synthesized the RXR-selective retinoid SR11237 and confirmed its specificity in transient transfection and proteolytic susceptibility assays before using it to assess the contribution of ligand-activated RXRs to retinoid action. Unlike RAR ligands, SR11237 did not increase endogenous RAR beta mRNA levels in F9 embryonal carcinoma cells, even though it activated transcription of an RXR-responsive reporter gene in these cells. Thus, it is likely that RARs mediate the induction of RAR beta gene expression by RA. In contrast, the RXR-specific ligand induced rat growth hormone mRNA in GH3 pituitary cells, indicating that the effects of RA on growth hormone gene expression at least in part involve ligand binding to endogenous RXRs in vivo. Our results indicate that in addition to serving as cofactors for other nuclear hormone receptors, endogenous RXRs can function as ligand-dependent regulators of gene expression, i.e., classical nuclear hormone receptors.

Ubiquitous receptor: a receptor that modulates gene activation by retinoic acid and thyroid hormone receptors

The cDNA for a member of the nuclear receptor family was cloned and named ubiquitous receptor (UR), since UR protein and mRNA are detected in many cell types. Rat UR/human retinoid X receptor alpha (hRXR alpha) heterodimers bound preferentially to double-stranded oligonucleotide direct repeats having the consensus half-site sequence AGGTCA and 4-nt spacing (DR-4). Coexpression of UR in COS-1 cells inhibited the stimulation of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene expression by hRXR alpha and human retinoic acid receptor alpha in the presence of all-trans-retinoic acid when DR-4 (but not DR-5) was present upstream of the promoter of a CAT reporter gene (DR-4-CAT). UR expression also inhibited the activation of a DR-4-CAT reporter gene by hRXR alpha and 9-cis-retinoic acid or by thyroid hormone receptor beta in the presence of thyroid hormone. However, in the absence of 9-cis-retinoic acid, UR in combination with hRXR alpha stimulation DR-4-CAT expression. Coexpression of thyroid hormone receptor markedly reduced this stimulation in the absence of thyroid hormone. UR may play an important role in normal growth and differentiation by modulating gene activation in retinoic acid and thyroid hormone signaling pathways.

Endogenous retinoid X receptors can function as hormone receptors in pituitary cells

Retinoids regulate gene transcription by interacting with both retinoic acid (RA) receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs). Since unliganded RXRs can act as heterodimerization partners for RARs and other nuclear hormone receptors, it is unclear whether ligand binding by RXRs actually regulates the expression of naturally occurring genes. To address this issue, we synthesized the RXR-selective retinoid SR11237 and confirmed its specificity in transient transfection and proteolytic susceptibility assays before using it to assess the contribution of ligand-activated RXRs to retinoid action. Unlike RAR ligands, SR11237 did not increase endogenous RAR beta mRNA levels in F9 embryonal carcinoma cells, even though it activated transcription of an RXR-responsive reporter gene in these cells. Thus, it is likely that RARs mediate the induction of RAR beta gene expression by RA. In contrast, the RXR-specific ligand induced rat growth hormone mRNA in GH3 pituitary cells, indicating that the effects of RA on growth hormone gene expression at least in part involve ligand binding to endogenous RXRs in vivo. Our results indicate that in addition to serving as cofactors for other nuclear hormone receptors, endogenous RXRs can function as ligand-dependent regulators of gene expression, i.e., classical nuclear hormone receptors.

A pleiotropic element in the medium-chain acyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase gene promoter mediates transcriptional regulation by multiple nuclear receptor transcription factors and defines novel receptor-DNA binding motifs

We previously identified a complex regulatory element in the medium-chain acyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase gene promoter that confers transcriptional regulation by the retinoid receptors RAR and RXR and the orphan nuclear receptor HNF-4. In this study we demonstrate a trans-repressing regulatory function for the orphan receptor COUP-TF at this same nuclear receptor response element (NRRE-1). The transcriptional regulatory properties and receptor binding sequences of each nuclear receptor response element within NRRE-1 are also characterized. NRRE-1 consists of four potential nuclear hormone receptor hexamer binding sites, arranged as [<--1-(n)s-2-->-3-->(n)4<--4], three of which are used in alternative pairwise binding by COUP-TF and HNF-4 homodimers and by RAR-RXR heterodimers, as demonstrated by mobility shift assays and methylation interference analysis. Binding and transactivation studies with mutant NRRE-1 elements confirmed the existence of distinct retinoid, COUP-TF, and HNF-4 response elements that define novel receptor binding motifs: COUP-TF homodimers bound sites 1 and 3 (two hexamer repeat sequences arranged as an everted imperfect repeat separated by 14 bp or ER14), RAR-RXR heterodimers bound sites 1 and 2 (ER8), and HNF-4 homodimers bound sites 2 and 3 (imperfect DR0). Mixing cotransfection experiments demonstrated that the nuclear receptor dimers compete at NRRE-1 to modulate constitutive and ligand-mediated transcriptional activity. These data suggest a mechanism for the transcriptional modulation of genes encoding enzymes involved in cellular metabolism.

A pleiotropic element in the medium-chain acyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase gene promoter mediates transcriptional regulation by multiple nuclear receptor transcription factors and defines novel receptor-DNA binding motifs

We previously identified a complex regulatory element in the medium-chain acyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase gene promoter that confers transcriptional regulation by the retinoid receptors RAR and RXR and the orphan nuclear receptor HNF-4. In this study we demonstrate a trans-repressing regulatory function for the orphan receptor COUP-TF at this same nuclear receptor response element (NRRE-1). The transcriptional regulatory properties and receptor binding sequences of each nuclear receptor response element within NRRE-1 are also characterized. NRRE-1 consists of four potential nuclear hormone receptor hexamer binding sites, arranged as [<--1-(n)s-2-->-3-->(n)4<--4], three of which are used in alternative pairwise binding by COUP-TF and HNF-4 homodimers and by RAR-RXR heterodimers, as demonstrated by mobility shift assays and methylation interference analysis. Binding and transactivation studies with mutant NRRE-1 elements confirmed the existence of distinct retinoid, COUP-TF, and HNF-4 response elements that define novel receptor binding motifs: COUP-TF homodimers bound sites 1 and 3 (two hexamer repeat sequences arranged as an everted imperfect repeat separated by 14 bp or ER14), RAR-RXR heterodimers bound sites 1 and 2 (ER8), and HNF-4 homodimers bound sites 2 and 3 (imperfect DR0). Mixing cotransfection experiments demonstrated that the nuclear receptor dimers compete at NRRE-1 to modulate constitutive and ligand-mediated transcriptional activity. These data suggest a mechanism for the transcriptional modulation of genes encoding enzymes involved in cellular metabolism.

Ligand modulates the conversion of DNA-bound vitamin D3 receptor (VDR) homodimers into VDR-retinoid X receptor heterodimers

Protein dimerization facilitates cooperative, high-affinity interactions with DNA. Nuclear hormone receptors, for example, bind either as homodimers or as heterodimers with retinoid X receptors (RXR) to half-site repeats that are stabilized by protein-protein interactions mediated by residues within both the DNA- and ligand-binding domains. In vivo, ligand binding among the subfamily of steroid receptors unmasks the nuclear localization and DNA-binding domains from a complex with auxiliary factors such as the heat shock proteins. However, the role of ligand is less clear among nuclear receptors, since they are constitutively localized to the nucleus and are presumably associated with DNA in the absence of ligand. In this study, we have begun to explore the role of the ligand in vitamin D3 receptor (VDR) function by examining its effect on receptor homodimer and heterodimer formation. Our results demonstrate that VDR is a monomer in solution; VDR binding to a specific DNA element leads to the formation of a homodimeric complex through a monomeric intermediate. We find that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, the ligand for VDR, decreases the amount of the DNA-bound VDR homodimer complex. It does so by significantly decreasing the rate of conversion of DNA-bound monomer to homodimer and at the same time enhancing the dissociation of the dimeric complex. This effectively stabilizes the bound monomeric species, which in turn serves to favor the formation of a VDR-RXR heterodimer. The ligand for RXR, 9-cis retinoic acid, has the opposite effect of destabilizing the heterodimeric-DNA complex. These results may explain how a nuclear receptor can bind DNA constitutively but still act to regulate transcription in a fully hormone-dependent manner.

Ligand modulates the conversion of DNA-bound vitamin D3 receptor (VDR) homodimers into VDR-retinoid X receptor heterodimers

Protein dimerization facilitates cooperative, high-affinity interactions with DNA. Nuclear hormone receptors, for example, bind either as homodimers or as heterodimers with retinoid X receptors (RXR) to half-site repeats that are stabilized by protein-protein interactions mediated by residues within both the DNA- and ligand-binding domains. In vivo, ligand binding among the subfamily of steroid receptors unmasks the nuclear localization and DNA-binding domains from a complex with auxiliary factors such as the heat shock proteins. However, the role of ligand is less clear among nuclear receptors, since they are constitutively localized to the nucleus and are presumably associated with DNA in the absence of ligand. In this study, we have begun to explore the role of the ligand in vitamin D3 receptor (VDR) function by examining its effect on receptor homodimer and heterodimer formation. Our results demonstrate that VDR is a monomer in solution; VDR binding to a specific DNA element leads to the formation of a homodimeric complex through a monomeric intermediate. We find that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, the ligand for VDR, decreases the amount of the DNA-bound VDR homodimer complex. It does so by significantly decreasing the rate of conversion of DNA-bound monomer to homodimer and at the same time enhancing the dissociation of the dimeric complex. This effectively stabilizes the bound monomeric species, which in turn serves to favor the formation of a VDR-RXR heterodimer. The ligand for RXR, 9-cis retinoic acid, has the opposite effect of destabilizing the heterodimeric-DNA complex. These results may explain how a nuclear receptor can bind DNA constitutively but still act to regulate transcription in a fully hormone-dependent manner.

Homo- and heterodimers of the retinoid X receptor (RXR) activated transcription in yeast

The polymorphic nature of sequences which act as retinoic acid response elements (RAREs and RXREs) in transactivation assays in mammalian cells, suggests that elements consisting of a direct repetition of a half site motif, separated by 1 to 5 base pairs (DR1 to DR5), are targets for retinoic acid (RA) signalling. In a previous report we showed that in yeast cells, heterodimers of the retinoic acid receptors RAR alpha and RXR alpha were required for efficient transcription of a reporter gene containing a DR5 element [Heery et al., (1993); Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 90: 4281-4285]. Here we report that DR1 to DR5 elements containing a direct repeat of the 5'-AGGTCA-3' motif, and an inverted repeat of the same sequence with no spacer (IR0), behave as RAREs in yeast cells coexpressing RAR alpha and RXR alpha, albeit with different efficacies. Heterodimer activity was strongest on a DR5 reporter gene, and the strength of activation of the reporter series (DR5 > DR1 > DR3 > DR2 = IR0 = DR4) correlated with the ability of the heterodimer to bind to the corresponding sequences in vitro. Significantly, a reporter containing a DR1 element was selectively and efficiently activated in yeast cells expressing only RXR alpha. This activity was dependent on the induction by 9-cis retinoic acid of an activation function (AF-2) located in the RXR alpha ligand binding domain. In addition, a strong synergistic activity of RXR alpha was observed on a reporter containing the putative RXR element (RXRE) from the rat CRBPII gene promoter. Thus, RXR alpha can function independently as a transcription factor, in the absence of RARs or other heteromeric partners. Similarly, homodimers of RAR alpha selectively stimulated the transcription of a DR5 reporter in a ligand-dependent manner, but less efficiently than RAR alpha/RXR alpha heterodimers.

Recombinant thyroid hormone receptor and retinoid X receptor stimulate ligand-dependent transcription in vitro

The thyroid hormone and retinoid X receptors form a heterodimer with each other and mediate thyroid hormone (T3)-dependent transcription. Retinoid X receptor, in addition, forms a homodimer and mediates 9-cis-retinoic acid-dependent transcription. Here, recombinant thyroid hormone receptor and recombinant retinoid X receptor beta expressed from baculovirus vectors have been studied for ligand-mediated activation of transcription in vitro. We show that the two recombinant receptors, most likely as a heterodimer, cooperatively enhance transcription in vitro from a template containing functional T3 responsive elements. The enhancement was specific for the T3 responsive element and was greatest when T3 was added to the reaction (approximately 14-fold increase). Albeit to a lesser degree, the two receptors also directed transcription in the absence of T3. Template competition experiments suggest that the two receptors enhance formation of the preinitiation complex and that activation by T3 occurs when the ligand binds the receptor prior to (or during), but not after, the formation of the preinitiation complex. Although 9-cis-retinoic acid had no effect on the T3-dependent transcription, this ligand activated transcription in vitro directed by recombinant retinoic X receptor beta, most likely as a homodimer. This activation was observed when using nuclear extracts from embryonal carcinoma cells as a source of basal transcription factors, but not those from B lymphocytes. These results demonstrate that transcriptional activation mediated by T3 and 9-cis-retinoic acid can be reconstituted in vitro with the respective recombinant receptors.