Modification of deoxyribonucleic acid-thyroid hormone receptor interaction by histones

Reduction of thyroid hormone receptor c-ERB A alpha mRNA levels in the hippocampus of Alzheimer as compared to Huntington brain

A history of thyroid dysfunction has been cited as a possible risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Neurologic symptoms displayed by hypothyroid patients resemble, in part, those manifested by Alzheimer patients. To determine if a relationship exists between thyroid hormone receptor message levels and AD, in situ hybridization with tritiated antisense RNA probes for thyroid hormone receptors was used to examine the expression of these genes in Alzheimer and Huntington brain tissue. Message levels for a thyroid hormone receptor highly expressed in brain (c-ERB A alpha) was reduced by 52% in CA1 and 43% in CA2 in Alzheimer hippocampus as compared to Huntington controls. In contrast, message levels for another form of thyroid hormone receptor (c-ERB A beta 1) in Alzheimer hippocampus were not significantly different from Huntington controls. Temporal and cerebellar levels of c-ERB A alpha were elevated by 1.6-fold whereas temporal but not cerebellar levels of c-ERB A beta 1 were elevated 2.0-fold in Alzheimer brain. There was no correlation between thyroid hormone receptor levels and brain weight, autopsy interval, patient age, or the extent of neurofibrillary degeneration. Instead, decreased thyroid hormone receptor mRNA levels in Alzheimer-affected hippocampus were due to an increase in the percentage of neurons expressing lower message levels for these proteins.

Triiodothyronine (T3)-associated upregulation and downregulation of nuclear T3 binding in the human fibroblast cell (MRC-5)--stimulation of malic enzyme, glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase, and 6-phosphogluconate-dehydrogenase by insulin, but not by T3

The specific nuclear binding of triiodothyronine (T3) (NBT3) and the activity of malic enzyme (ME), glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G6PD), and 6-phosphogluconate-dehydrogenase (6PGD) were studied in the human fibroblast cell (MRC-5). The overall apparent binding affinity (Ka) was 2.7 x 10(9) L.mol-1 estimated from kinetic studies of nuclear T3 binding, and 2.5 x 10(9) L.mol-1 estimated from equilibrium studies. The scatchard plots were curvilinear and composed of a high-affinity binding site with Ka1 3.4 +/- 0.7 x 10(9) L.mol-1 and maximal binding capacity (MBC) MBC1 57.0 +/- 11.9 fmol/mg DNA and a low-affinity binding site with Ka2 2.9 +/- 1.1 x 10(8) L.mol-1 and MBC2 124.7 +/- 22.1 fmol/mg DNA (n = 6). Incubation of cells with 6 nmol/L T3 for 20 hours reduced NBT3 to 62.2% +/- 15.7% (P less than .01, n = 11). The Ka estimated from kinetic studies was reduced to 6.7 x 10(7) L.mol-1, and the scatchard plots were linear, with Ka 4.5 +/- 1.6 x 10(8) L.mol-1 and MBC 137.0 +/- 44.6 fmol/mg DNA (n = 3) of the same magnitude as the low-affinity binding site in cells incubated without T3 (NS). The reduction in NBT3 was reversible and maximal at T3 concentrations saturating the high-affinity binding site and more than 58% of the total nuclear binding sites. The MRC-5 cell cytosol contained ME, G6PD, and 6PGD activities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cellular binding proteins of thyroid hormones

Cellular binding proteins of thyroid hormones are present in the cell nucleus, cytosol, cell membrane, and mitochondria. While nuclear binding is proven to mediate hormone action, the exact roles of the other binding sites remain to be established. Nuclear receptor associates with DNA, core histone, and nuclear matrix and preferentially distributes in transcriptionally active chromatin due to interaction with H1 histone. Of particular importance is the binding of nuclear receptor to specific DNA sequences of target genes, termed thyroid-responsive elements. The binding is stabilized by non-receptor nuclear protein. Upon binding thyroid hormone, nuclear receptor is activated through alterations in the steric configuration, leading to changes in the rate of transcription of the target genes. Multiple nuclear receptor forms exist with likely distinct functional roles. Cytosolic thyroid hormone binding proteins are also heterogeneous. One form is under the control of cell metabolism (NADP and NADPH) and it may have a role in transport of the hormone to mitochondria and nucleus. Membrane-linked thyroid hormone binding proteins may have dual functional roles: one is to mediate hormone action and the other is to support active uptake of hormones by cells. Mitochondrial function may be regulated by thyroid hormone through mitochondrial binding sites in cooperation with nuclear receptor-mediated pathway. Further studies are required to elucidate the exact functional roles of non nuclear thyroid hormone binding proteins.

Human c-erb A protein expressed in Escherichia coli: changes in hydrophobicity upon thyroid hormone binding

The human c-erb A beta gene sequence was inserted in an Escherichia coli expression vector plasmid. The E. coli cells transformed with this plasmid produced proteins with molecular masses of 52 and 50 kDa. These products bound 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) with an affinity constant of 4.3 x 10(9) liter/mol. The order of affinity for iodothyronine analogs was triiodothyroacetic acid greater than T3 greater than 3,5,3'-triiodo-D-thyronine greater than L-thyroxine. Affinity labeling experiments showed that the 50 kDa protein was covalently labeled with [125I]T3, and this was competed by triiodothyroacetic acid, T3, and L-thyroxine (from potent to weaker competitor). The c-erb A protein bound to calf thymus DNA-cellulose and the binding was inhibited by 0.3 M KCl or 10 mM pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. Aqueous two-phase partitioning studies showed that the c-erb A product became less hydrophobic upon T3 or triiodothyroacetic acid binding. The same finding was obtained when T3 bound to partially purified rat liver nuclear thyroid hormone receptor. However, thyroxine binding globulin became more hydrophobic upon T3 binding. Since the T3 molecule partitioned preferentially into the upper polyethylene glycol-rich phase, the alteration of partitioning behavior of thyroxine binding globulin was explained by a simple additive effect of T3. In contrast, the alteration of partitioning behavior of the c-erb A product or receptor reflected a conformational transition upon T3 binding. The c-erb A protein expressed in E. coli showed various characteristics similar to classical thyroid hormone receptor and may be useful in studying the structure and function of the thyroid hormone receptor.

Thyroid hormone nuclear receptors and their role in the metabolic action of the hormone

Thyroid hormone nuclear receptor molecules have been characterized as proteins of approximately 49,000 molecular weight existing in cells attached to chromatin and with 4000-8000 copies per nucleus. They bind T3 with Ka of 0.2 X 10(10) l/mol and show microheterogeneity on isoelectric focusing. Hormone responsiveness varies with receptor content in the nucleus and occupancy of receptor by T3. Recent investigations have shown that the receptors are part of the v-erbA related super family of nuclear hormone receptors. At least two types of T3 receptors (TR) exist, one coded by a gene on chromosome 3 (TR beta) and a second coded on chromosome 17 (hTR alpha). Receptors are low in the fetus and, in the adult, are dramatically reduced by starvation, illness and glucagon. Receptors function through binding of T3 or other hormone analogs to a domain in the carboxyl portion of the protein, and binding of the receptor-T3 complex through 'DNA-fingers' to specific response elements as enhancers and located in the 5'-flanking DNA of thyroid hormone responsive genes. Extensive studies on regulation of rat growth hormone have suggested binding of receptor or associated factors to several positions in the 5'-flanking DNA, and recent studies suggest that a crucial area may be a 15 bp segment between bases -179 and -164. Abnormal receptors are believed to be responsible for the syndrome of generalized resistance to thyroid hormone action, but it is yet unclear as to which form (or forms) of the receptor is abnormal in this syndrome.