Analysis of the functional role of steroid receptor coactivator-1 in ligand-induced transactivation by thyroid hormone receptor

Full-length nuclear receptor allosteric regulation

Nuclear receptors are a superfamily of transcription factors regulated by a wide range of lipids that include phospholipids, fatty acids, heme-based metabolites, and cholesterol-based steroids. Encoded as classic two-domain modular transcription factors, nuclear receptors possess a DNA-binding domain (DBD) and a lipid ligand-binding domain (LBD) containing a transcriptional activation function. Decades of structural studies on the isolated LBDs of nuclear receptors established that lipid-ligand binding allosterically regulates the conformation of the LBD, regulating transcriptional coregulator recruitment and thus nuclear receptor function. These structural studies have aided the development of several FDA-approved drugs, highlighting the importance of understanding the structure-function relationships between lipids and nuclear receptors. However, there are few published descriptions of full-length nuclear receptor structure and even fewer descriptions of how lipids might allosterically regulate full-length structure. Here, we examine multidomain interactions based on the published full-length nuclear receptor structures, evaluating the potential of interdomain interfaces within these nuclear receptors to act as inducible sites of allosteric regulation by lipids.

Next-generation retinoid X receptor agonists increase ATRA signaling in organotypic epithelium cultures and have distinct effects on receptor dynamics

Retinoid X receptors (RXRs) are nuclear transcription factors that partner with other nuclear receptors to regulate numerous physiological processes. Although RXR represents a valid therapeutic target, only a few RXR-specific ligands (rexinoids) have been identified, in part due to the lack of clarity on how rexinoids selectively modulate RXR response. Previously, we showed that rexinoid UAB30 potentiates all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) signaling in human keratinocytes, in part by stimulating ATRA biosynthesis. Here, we examined the mechanism of action of next-generation rexinoids UAB110 and UAB111 that are more potent in vitro than UAB30 and the FDA-approved Targretin. Both UAB110 and UAB111 enhanced ATRA signaling in human organotypic epithelium at a 50-fold lower concentration than UAB30. This was consistent with the 2- to 5- fold greater increase in ATRA in organotypic epidermis treated with UAB110/111 versus UAB30. Furthermore, at 0.2 μM, UAB110/111 increased the expression of ATRA genes up to 16-fold stronger than Targretin. The less toxic and more potent UAB110 also induced more changes in differential gene expression than Targretin. Additionally, our hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry analysis showed that both ligands reduced the dynamics of the ligand-binding pocket but also induced unique dynamic responses that were indicative of higher affinity binding relative to UAB30, especially for Helix 3. UAB110 binding also showed increased dynamics towards the dimer interface through the Helix 8 and Helix 9 regions. These data suggest that UAB110 and UAB111 are potent activators of RXR-RAR signaling pathways but accomplish activation through different molecular responses to ligand binding.

A coregulator shift, rather than the canonical switch, underlies thyroid hormone action in the liver

In this study, Shabtai et al. investigated the mechanism of thyroid hormone (TH)-dependent gene repression, generated a mouse line in which endogenous thyroid hormone receptor TRβ1 was epitope-tagged to allow precise chromatin immunoprecipitation at the low physiological levels of thyroid hormone receptors (TR), and defined high-confidence binding sites where TR functioned at enhancers regulated in the same direction as the nearest gene in a TRβ-dependent manner. Their results demonstrate that, in contrast to the canonical “all or none” coregulator switch model, TH regulates gene expression by orchestrating a shift in the relative binding of corepressors and coactivators.

Thyroid hormones (THs) are powerful regulators of metabolism with major effects on body weight, cholesterol, and liver fat that have been exploited pharmacologically for many years. Activation of gene expression by TH action is canonically ascribed to a hormone-dependent “switch” from corepressor to activator binding to thyroid hormone receptors (TRs), while the mechanism of TH-dependent repression is controversial. To address this, we generated a mouse line in which endogenous TRβ1 was epitope-tagged to allow precise chromatin immunoprecipitation at the low physiological levels of TR and defined high-confidence binding sites where TRs functioned at enhancers regulated in the same direction as the nearest gene in a TRβ-dependent manner. Remarkably, although positive and negative regulation by THs have been ascribed to different mechanisms, TR binding was highly enriched at canonical DR4 motifs irrespective of the transcriptional direction of the enhancer. The canonical NCoR1/HDAC3 corepressor complex was reduced but not completely dismissed by TH and, surprisingly, similar effects were seen at enhancers associated with negatively as well as positively regulated genes. Conversely, coactivator CBP was found at all TH-regulated enhancers, with transcriptional activity correlating with the ratio of CBP to NCoR rather than their presence or absence. These results demonstrate that, in contrast to the canonical “all or none” coregulator switch model, THs regulate gene expression by orchestrating a shift in the relative binding of corepressors and coactivators.

Multiple mechanisms regulate H3 acetylation of enhancers in response to thyroid hormone

Hormone-dependent activation of enhancers includes histone hyperacetylation and mediator recruitment. Histone hyperacetylation is mostly explained by a bimodal switch model, where histone deacetylases (HDACs) disassociate from chromatin, and histone acetyl transferases (HATs) are recruited. This model builds on decades of research on steroid receptor regulation of transcription. Yet, the general concept of the bimodal switch model has not been rigorously tested genome wide. We have used a genomics approach to study enhancer hyperacetylation by the thyroid hormone receptor (TR), described to operate as a bimodal switch. H3 acetylation, HAT and HDAC ChIP-seq analyses of livers from hypo- and hyperthyroid wildtype, TR deficient and NCOR1 disrupted mice reveal three types of thyroid hormone (T3)-regulated enhancers. One subset of enhancers is bound by HDAC3-NCOR1 in the absence of hormone and constitutively occupy TR and HATs irrespective of T3 levels, suggesting a poised enhancer state in absence of hormone. In presence of T3, HDAC3-NCOR1 dissociates from these enhancers leading to histone hyperacetylation, suggesting a histone acetylation rheostat function of HDACs at poised enhancers. Another subset of enhancers, not occupied by HDACs, is hyperacetylated in a T3-dependent manner, where TR is recruited to chromatin together with HATs. Lastly, a subset of enhancers, is not occupied directly by TR yet requires TR for histone hyperacetylation. This indirect enhancer activation involves co-association with TR bound enhancers within super-enhancers or topological associated domains. Collectively, this demonstrates various mechanisms controlling hormone-dependent transcription and adds significant details to the otherwise simple bimodal switch model.

Thyroid hormone (T3) is a central regulator of growth, thermogenesis, heart rate and metabolism. In the liver T3 binds thyroid hormone receptor beta (TRβ) controlling expression of genes involved in processes such as lipid and cholesterol metabolism. The molecular mechanisms controlling TR-dependent gene regulation are centred on a bimodal switch model. In the absence of T3 co-repressors bind TR reducing gene expression. When hormone binds TR, co-repressors dissociate, and co-activators are recruited inducing gene expression. This model predominates the current understanding of T3-regulated gene expression. However, only a few studies have tested this model by genome-wide approaches. We have quantified histone3 acetylation genome-wide in the liver of hypo- and hyperthyroid mice and identified gene regulatory regions regulated by T3. Probing TR and co-regulators at these regulatory regions, and analysing histone3 acetylation in mouse models for disrupted co-repressor and TR activity, reveal additional insights to the mechanisms regulating T3-dependent gene expression. We suggest a revision of the prevailing bimodal switch model which helps understanding T3-regulated gene expression in tissues such as liver. We hope that this study, together with future studies, will add new perspectives on nuclear receptor-mediated transcriptional regulation to reveal general principles.

Androgenic signaling systems and their role in behavioral evolution

Sex steroids mediate the organization and activation of masculine reproductive phenotypes in diverse vertebrate taxa. However, the effects of sex steroid action in this context vary tremendously, in that steroid action influences reproductive physiology and behavior in markedly different ways (even among closely related species). This leads to the idea that the mechanisms underlying sex steroid action similarly differ across vertebrates in a manner that supports diversification of important sexual traits. Here, we highlight the Evolutionary Potential Hypothesis as a framework for understanding how androgen-dependent reproductive behavior evolves. This idea posits that the cellular mechanisms underlying androgenic action can independently evolve within a given target tissue to adjust the hormone's functional effects. The result is a seemingly endless number of permutations in androgenic signaling pathways that can be mapped onto the incredible diversity of reproductive phenotypes. One reason this hypothesis is important is because it shifts current thinking about the evolution of steroid-dependent traits away from an emphasis on circulating steroid levels and toward a focus on molecular mechanisms of hormone action. To this end, we also provide new empirical data suggesting that certain cellular modulators of androgen action-namely, the co-factors that dynamically adjust transcritpional effects of steroid action either up or down-are also substrates on which evolution can act. We then close the review with a detailed look at a case study in the golden-collared manakin (Manacus vitellinus). Work in this tropical bird shows how androgenic signaling systems are modified in specific parts of the skeletal muscle system to enhance motor performance necessary to produce acrobatic courtship displays. Altogether, this paper seeks to develop a platform to better understand how steroid action influences the evolution of complex animal behavior.

Profiling of 3696 Nuclear Receptor-Coregulator Interactions: A Resource for Biological and Clinical Discovery

Nuclear receptors (NRs) are ligand-inducible transcription factors that play critical roles in metazoan development, reproduction, and physiology and therefore are implicated in a broad range of pathologies. The transcriptional activity of NRs critically depends on their interaction(s) with transcriptional coregulator proteins, including coactivators and corepressors. Short leucine-rich peptide motifs in these proteins (LxxLL in coactivators and LxxxIxxxL in corepressors) are essential and sufficient for NR binding. With 350 different coregulator proteins identified to date and with many coregulators containing multiple interaction motifs, an enormous combinatorial potential is present for selective NR-mediated gene regulation. However, NR-coregulator interactions have often been determined experimentally on a one-to-one basis across diverse experimental conditions. In addition, NR-coregulator interactions are difficult to predict because the molecular determinants that govern specificity are not well established. Therefore, many biologically and clinically relevant NR-coregulator interactions may remain to be discovered. Here, we present a comprehensive overview of 3696 NR-coregulator interactions by systematically characterizing the binding of 24 nuclear receptors with 154 coregulator peptides. We identified unique ligand-dependent NR-coregulator interaction profiles for each NR, confirming many well-established NR-coregulator interactions. Hierarchical clustering based on the NR-coregulator interaction profiles largely recapitulates the classification of NR subfamilies based on the primary amino acid sequences of the ligand-binding domains, indicating that amino acid sequence is an important, although not the only, molecular determinant in directing and fine-tuning NR-coregulator interactions. This NR-coregulator peptide interactome provides an open data resource for future biological and clinical discovery as well as NR-based drug design.

Agonist-specific Protein Interactomes of Glucocorticoid and Androgen Receptor as Revealed by Proximity Mapping

Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and androgen receptor (AR) are steroid-inducible transcription factors (TFs). The GR and the AR are central regulators of various metabolic, homeostatic and differentiation processes and hence important therapeutic targets, especially in inflammation and prostate cancer, respectively. Hormone binding to these steroid receptors (SRs) leads to DNA binding and activation or repression of their target genes with the aid of interacting proteins, coregulators. However, protein interactomes of these important drug targets have remained poorly defined. We used proximity-dependent biotin identification to map the protein interaction landscapes of GR and AR in the presence and absence of their cognate agonist (dexamethasone, 5α-dihydrotestosterone) and antagonist (RU486, enzalutamide) in intact human cells. We reproducibly identified more than 30 proteins that interacted with the GR in an agonist-specific manner and whose interactions were significantly influenced by the DNA-binding function of the receptor. Interestingly, the agonist-dependent interactome of the GR overlapped considerably with that of the AR. In addition to known coactivators, corepressors and components of BAF (SWI/SNF) chromatin-remodeling complex, we identified a number of proteins, including lysine methyltransferases and demethylases that have not been previously linked to glucocorticoid or androgen signaling. A substantial number of these novel agonist-dependent GR/AR-interacting proteins, e.g. BCOR, IRF2BP2, RCOR1, and TLE3, have previously been implicated in transcription repression. This together with our data on the effect of BCOR, IRF2BP2, and RCOR1 on GR target gene expression suggests multifaceted functions and roles for SR coregulators. These first high confidence SR interactomes will aid in therapeutic targeting of the GR and the AR.

An evolving understanding of nuclear receptor coregulator proteins

Nuclear receptors are transcription factors that regulate gene expression through the ligand-controlled recruitment of a diverse group of proteins known as coregulators. Most nuclear receptor coregulators function in large multi-protein complexes that modify chromatin and thereby regulate the transcription of target genes. Structural and functional studies are beginning to reveal how these complexes are assembled bringing together multiple functionalities that mediate: recruitment to specific genomic loci through interaction with transcription factors; recruitment of enzymatic activities that either modify or remodel chromatin and targeting the complexes to their chromatin substrate. These activities are regulated by post-translational modifications, alternative splicing and small signalling molecules. This review focuses on our current understanding of coregulator complexes and aims to highlight the common principles that are beginning to emerge.

Synthesis and evaluation of sulfonylnitrophenylthiazoles (SNPTs) as thyroid hormone receptor-coactivator interaction inhibitors

We previously identified a series of methylsulfonylnitrobenzoates (MSNBs) that block the interaction of the thyroid hormone receptor with its coactivators. MSNBs inhibit coactivator binding through irreversible modification of cysteine 298 of the thyroid hormone receptor (TR). Although MSNBs have better pharmacological features than our first generation inhibitors (β-aminoketones), they contain a potentially unstable ester linkage. Here we report the bioisosteric replacement of the ester linkage with a thiazole moiety, yielding sulfonylnitrophenylthiazoles (SNPTs). An array of SNPTs representing optimal side chains from the MSNB series was constructed using parallel chemistry and evaluated to test their antagonism of the TR-coactivator interaction. Selected active compounds were evaluated in secondary confirmatory assays including regulation of thyroid response element driven transcription in reporter constructs and native genes. In addition the selected SNPTs were shown to be selective for TR relative to other nuclear hormone receptors (NRs).

Methylsulfonylnitrobenzoates, a new class of irreversible inhibitors of the interaction of the thyroid hormone receptor and its obligate coactivators that functionally antagonizes thyroid hormone

Thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) are members of the nuclear hormone receptor (NR) superfamily and regulate development, growth, and metabolism. Upon binding thyroid hormone, TR undergoes a conformational change that allows the release of corepressors and the recruitment of coactivators, which in turn regulate target gene transcription. Although a number of TR antagonists have been developed, most are analogs of the endogenous hormone that inhibit ligand binding. In a screen for inhibitors that block the association of TRβ with steroid receptor coactivator 2 (SRC2), we identified a novel methylsulfonylnitrobenzoate (MSNB)-containing series that blocks this interaction at micromolar concentrations. Here we have studied a series of MSNB analogs and characterized their structure activity relationships. MSNB members do not displace thyroid hormone T3 but instead act by direct displacement of SRC2. MSNB series members are selective for the TR over the androgen, vitamin D, and PPARγ NR members, and they antagonize thyroid hormone-activated transcription action in cells. The methylsulfonylnitro group is essential for TRβ antagonism. Side-chain alkylamine substituents showed better inhibitory activity than arylamine substituents. Mass spectrum analysis suggested that MSNB inhibitors bind irreversibly to Cys-298 within the AF-2 cleft of TRβ to disrupt SRC2 association.

Minireview: Thyrotropin-releasing hormone and the thyroid hormone feedback mechanism

Thyroid hormone (TH) plays a critical role in development, growth, and cellular metabolism. TH production is controlled by a complex mechanism of positive and negative regulation. Hypothalamic TSH-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulates TSH secretion from the anterior pituitary. TSH then initiates TH synthesis and release from the thyroid gland. The synthesis of TRH and TSH subunit genes is inhibited at the transcriptional level by TH, which also inhibits posttranslational modification and release of TSH. Although opposing TRH and TH inputs regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis, TH negative feedback at the pituitary was thought to be the primary regulator of serum TSH levels. However, study of transgenic animals showed an unexpected, dominant role for TRH in regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis and an unanticipated involvement of the thyroid hormone receptor ligand-dependent activation function (AF-2) domain in TH negative regulation. These results are summarized in the review.

Increased FOG-2 in failing myocardium disrupts thyroid hormone-dependent SERCA2 gene transcription

Reduced expression of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA)2 and other genes in the adult cardiac gene program has raised consideration of an impaired responsiveness to thyroid hormone (T3) that develops in the advanced failing heart. Here, we show that human and murine cardiomyopathy hearts have increased expression of friend of GATA (FOG)-2, a cardiac nuclear hormone receptor corepressor protein. Cardiac-specific overexpression of FOG-2 in transgenic mice led to depressed cardiac function, activation of the fetal gene program, congestive heart failure, and early death. SERCA2 transcript and protein levels were reduced in FOG-2 transgenic hearts, and FOG-2 overexpression impaired T3-mediated SERCA2 expression in cultured cardiomyocytes. FOG-2 physically interacts with thyroid hormone receptor-alpha1 and abrogated even high levels of T3-mediated SERCA2 promoter activity. These results demonstrate that SERCA2 is an important target of FOG-2 and that increased FOG-2 expression may contribute to a decline in cardiac function in end-stage heart failure by impaired T3 signaling.

Quantification of ligand-regulated nuclear receptor corepressor and coactivator binding, key interactions determining ligand potency and efficacy for the thyroid hormone receptor

The potency and efficacy of ligands for nuclear receptors (NR) result both from the affinity of the ligand for the receptor and from the affinity that various coregulatory proteins have for ligand-receptor complexes; the latter interaction, however, is rarely quantified. To understand the molecular basis for ligand potency and efficacy, we developed dual time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer (tr-FRET) assays and quantified binding of both ligand and coactivator or corepressor to the thyroid hormone receptor (TR). Promoter-bound TR exerts dual transcriptional regulatory functions, recruiting corepressor proteins and repressing transcription in the absence of thyroid hormones (THs) and shedding corepressors in favor of coactivators upon binding agonists, activating transcription. Our tr-FRET assays involve a TRE sequence labeled with terbium (fluorescence donor), TRbeta.RXRalpha heterodimer, and fluorescein-labeled NR interaction domains of coactivator SRC3 or corepressor NCoR (fluorescence acceptors). Through coregulator titrations, we could determine the affinity of SRC3 or NCoR for TRE-bound TR.RXR heterodimers, unliganded or saturated with different THs. Alternatively, through ligand titrations, we could determine the relative potencies of different THs. The order of TR agonist potencies is as follows: GC-1 approximately T 3 approximately TRIAC approximately T 4 >> rT 3 (for both coactivator recruitment and corepressor dissociation); the affinities of SRC3 binding to TR-ligand complexes followed a similar trend. This highlights the fact that the low activity of rT 3 is derived both from its low affinity for TR and from the low affinity of SRC for the TR-rT 3 complex. The TR antagonist NH-3 failed to induce SRC3 recruitment but did effect NCoR dissociation. These assays provide quantitative information about the affinity of two key interactions that are determinants of NR ligand potency and efficacy.

The N-CoR complex enables chromatin remodeler SNF2H to enhance repression by thyroid hormone receptor

Unliganded thyroid hormone receptor (TR) actively represses transcription via the nuclear receptor corepressor (N-CoR)/histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) complex. Although transcriptional activation by liganded receptors involves chromatin remodeling, the role of ATP-dependent remodeling in receptor-mediated repression is unknown. Here we report that SNF2H, the mammalian ISWI chromatin remodeling ATPase, is critical for repression of a genomically integrated, TR-regulated reporter gene. N-CoR and HDAC3 are both required for recruitment of SNF2H to the repressed gene. SNF2H does not interact directly with the N-CoR/HDAC3 complex, but binds to unacetylated histone H4 tails, suggesting that deacetylase activity of the corepressor complex is critical to SNF2H function. Indeed, HDAC3 as well as SNF2H are required for nucleosomal organization on the TR target gene. Consistent with these findings, reduction of SNF2H induces expression of an endogenous TR-regulated gene, dio1, in liver cells. Thus, although not apparent from studies of transiently transfected reporter genes, gene repression by TR involves the targeting of chromatin remodeling factors to repressed genes by the HDAC activity of nuclear receptor corepressors.

Thyroid hormone induces erythropoietin gene expression through augmented accumulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1

Oxygen is of vital importance for the metabolism and function of all cells in the human body. Hypoxia, the reduction of oxygen supply, results in adaptationally appropriate alterations in gene expression through the activation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) to overcome any shortage of oxygen. Thyroid hormones are required for normal function of nearly all tissues, with major effects on oxygen consumption and metabolic rate. Thyroid hormones have been found to augment the oxygen capacity of the blood by increasing the production of erythropoietin (EPO) and to improve perfusion by vasodilation through the augmented expression of adrenomedullin (ADM). Because the hypoxic expression of both genes depends on HIF-1, we studied the influence of thyroid hormone on HIF-1 activation in the human hepatoma cell line HepG2 under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. We found that thyroid hormones increased HIF-1α protein accumulation by increasing HIF-1α protein synthesis rather than attenuating its proteasomal degradation. HIF-1α expression directly correlated with augmented HIF-1 DNA binding and transcriptional activity of luciferase reporter plasmids, whereas HIF-1β levels remained unaffected. Knocking down HIF-1α by short interfering RNA (siRNA) clearly demonstrated that thyroid hormone-induced target gene expression required the presence of HIF-1. Although an increased association of the two known coactivators of HIF-1, p300 and SRC-1, was found, thyroid hormone did not affect the activity of the isolated COOH-terminal transactivating domain of HIF-1α. Increased synthesis of HIF-1α may contribute to the adaptive response of increased oxygen demand under hyperthyroid conditions.

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.

Impaired interaction of mutant thyroid hormone receptors associated with human hepatocellular carcinoma with transcriptional coregulators

Thyroid hormone (T(3)) exerts its many biological activities through interaction with specific nuclear receptors (TRs) that function as ligand-dependent transcription factors at genes that contain a thyroid hormone response element (TRE). Mutant TRs have been detected in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines and tissue, but their contribution to carcinogenesis has remained unclear. The interaction of four such mutant TRs (J7-TRalpha1, J7-TRbeta1, H-TRalpha1, and L-TRalpha1) with transcriptional coregulators has now been investigated. With the exception of J7-TRalpha1, which in the absence of T(3) exhibited transcriptional silencing activity with a TRE-reporter gene construct in transfected cells, the mutant TRs had little effect (compared with that of wild-type receptors) on transcriptional activity of the reporter gene in the absence or presence of T(3), of the transcriptional corepressors SMRT, NCoR or of the transcriptional coactivator SRC. Electrophoretic mobility-shift assays revealed that, in the presence of T(3), the J7-TRss1 mutant did not interact with SRC, whereas J7-TRalpha1 and H-TRalpha1 exhibited reduced abilities to associate with this coactivator and L-TRalpha1 showed an ability to interact with SRC similar to that of wild-type TRalpha1. The dominant negative activity of the mutant TRs in transfected cells appeared inversely related to the ability of the receptors to interact with SRC. Whereas J7-TRss1, H-TRalpha1, and L-TRalpha1 did not interact with SMRT, and NCoR. J7-TRalpha1 bind to corepressors but failed to dissociate from them in the presence of T(3). These aberrant interactions between the mutant TRs and transcriptional coregulators may contribute to the highly variable clinical characteristics of human hepatocellular carcinoma.

The mechanism of action of thyroid hormones

Thyroid hormone is essential for normal development, differentiation, and metabolic balance. Thyroid hormone action is mediated by multiple thyroid hormone receptor isoforms derived from two distinct genes. The thyroid hormone receptors belong to a nuclear receptor superfamily that also includes receptors for other small lipophilic hormones. Thyroid hormone receptors function by binding to specific thyroid hormone-responsive sequences in promoters of target genes and by regulating transcription. Thyroid hormone receptors often form heterodimers with retinoid X receptors. Heterodimerization is regulated through distinct mechanisms that together determine the specificity and flexibility of the sequence recognition. Amino-terminal regions appear to modulate thyroid hormone receptor function in an isoform-dependent manner. Unliganded thyroid hormone receptor represses transcription through recruitment of a corepressor complex, which also includes Sin3A and histone deacetylase. Ligand binding alters the conformation of the thyroid hormone receptor in such a way as to release the corepressor complex and recruit a coactivator complex that includes multiple histone acetyltransferases, including a steroid receptor family coactivator, p300/CREB-binding protein-associated factor (PCAF), and CREB binding protein (CBP). The existence of histone-modifying activities in the transcriptional regulatory complexes indicates an important role of chromatin structure. Stoichiometric, structural, and sequence-specific rules for coregulator interaction are beginning to be understood, as are aspects of the tissue specificity of hormone action. Moreover, knockout studies suggest that the products of two thyroid hormone receptor genes mediate distinct functions in vivo. The increased understanding of the structure and function of thyroid hormone receptors and their interacting proteins has markedly clarified the molecular mechanisms of thyroid hormone action.

Truncated estrogen receptor product-1 suppresses estrogen receptor transactivation by dimerization with estrogen receptors alpha and beta

The estrogen receptor (ER) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that acts as a homodimer. Truncated estrogen receptor product-1 (TERP-1) is a pituitary-specific, estrogen-induced, isoform of rat ERalpha that is transcribed from a unique start site and contains only the C-terminal region of the full-length receptor. TERP-1 does not affect transcription directly but suppresses ligand-activated ERalpha and ERbeta activity. Because TERP-1 contains a dimerization domain and part of the coactivator binding pocket, we hypothesized that it modulates ER function by direct interactions with full-length ER or the steroid receptor coactivator, SRC-1. Localization studies demonstrate that TERP-1 is present in the cytoplasm and nucleus of transfected cells and colocalizes with nuclear ER. Protein binding studies show that TERP-1 forms heterodimers with both ERalpha and ERbeta and inhibits ERalpha binding to its cognate DNA response element. TERP-1 also binds SRC-1, and increasing levels of SRC-1 decrease the TERP-1-ERalpha interactions, in agreement with the rescue of TERP-1-suppressed ERalpha transcriptional activity by SRC-1. Mutational analysis of TERP-1 and ERalpha in the activation helix and the AF-2 dimerization helix indicates that TERP-1 acts predominantly through dimerization with ERalpha. Therefore, TERP-1 suppression of ER transcription occurs primarily by formation of inactive heterodimers and secondarily by competition for coactivators.

Modulation of transcriptional activation and coactivator interaction by a splicing variation in the F domain of nuclear receptor hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha1

Transcription factors, such as nuclear receptors, often exist in various forms that are generated by highly conserved splicing events. Whereas the functional significance of these splicing variants is often not known, it is known that nuclear receptors activate transcription through interaction with coactivators. The parameters, other than ligands, that might modulate those interactions, however, are not well characterized, nor is the role of splicing variants. In this study, transient transfection, yeast two-hybrid, and GST pulldown assays are used to show not only that nuclear receptor hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha1 (HNF4alpha1, NR2A1) interacts with GRIP1, and other coactivators, in the absence of ligand but also that the uncommonly large F domain in the C terminus of the receptor inhibits that interaction. In vitro, the F domain was found to obscure an AF-2-independent binding site for GRIP1 that did not map to nuclear receptor boxes II or III. The results also show that a natural splicing variant containing a 10-amino-acid insert in the middle of the F domain (HNF4alpha2) abrogates that inhibition in vivo and in vitro. A series of protease digestion assays indicates that there may be structural differences between HNF4alpha1 and HNF4alpha2 in the F domain as well as in the ligand binding domain (LBD). The data also suggest that there is a direct physical contact between the F domain and the LBD of HNF4alpha1 and -alpha2 and that that contact is different in the HNF4alpha1 and HNF4alpha2 isoforms. Finally, we propose a model in which the F domain of HNF4alpha1 acts as a negative regulatory region for transactivation and in which the alpha2 insert ameliorates the negative effect of the F domain. A conserved repressor sequence in the F domains of HNF4alpha1 and -alpha2 suggests that this model may be relevant to other nuclear receptors as well.

Identification of an autonomous transactivation domain in helix H3 of the vitamin D receptor

The vitamin D receptor (VDR) contains an alpha-helical, ligand-inducible activation function (AF-2) at the COOH-terminus of the ligand-binding domain (LBD). In this study, a second distinct activation domain was identified in the VDR LBD. Using a yeast-based system to screen a random mutant library of GAL4-VDR (93-427), a mutant GAL4-VDR fusion protein with constitutive transcriptional activity was isolated. Sequence analysis identified a C to T transition that introduced a stop codon at glutamine 239 eliminating a large portion of the LBD, including the AF-2 domain. The GAL4-VDR (93-238) mutant exhibited ligand-independent transactivation activity both in yeast and in mammalian cells. Deletion analysis defined a minimal activation domain within helix H3 between D195 and I 238 in the VDR. An aspartic acid residue (D232) within helix H3 was essential for the autonomous transactivation activity since altering this residue to an alanine or an asparagine dramatically reduced its transactivation potential. Expression of the minimal helix H3 activation domain interfered with ligand-activated transcription by full-length VDR suggesting that helix H3 interacts with limiting cellular factors important for VDR-activated transcription. Consequently, we have identified a novel activation domain in helix H3 of the VDR that apparently plays an important role in 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3)-activated transcription.

The androgen receptor amino-terminal domain plays a key role in p160 coactivator-stimulated gene transcription

Steroid receptors are conditional transcription factors that, upon binding to their response elements, regulate the expression of target genes via direct protein interactions with transcriptional coactivators. We have analyzed the functional interactions between the androgen receptor (AR) and 160-kDa nuclear receptor coactivators. Upon overexpression in mammalian cells, these coactivators enhance the transcriptional activity of both the amino-terminal domain (NTD) and the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of the AR. The coactivator activity for the LBD is strictly ligand-controlled and depends on the nature of the DNA-binding domain to which it is fused. We demonstrate that the NTD physically interacts with coactivators and with the LBD and that this interaction, like the functional interaction between the LBD and p160 coactivators, relies on the activation function 2 (AF2) core domain. The mutation of a highly conserved lysine residue in the predicted helix 3 of the LBD (K720A), however, blunts the functional interaction with coactivators but not with the NTD. Moreover, this mutation does not affect the transcriptional activity of the full-size AR. A mutation in the NTD of activation function AF1a (I182A/L183A), which dramatically impairs the activity of the AR, has no effect on the intrinsic transcriptional activity of the NTD but interferes with the cooperation between the NTD and the LBD. Finally, p160 proteins in which the three LXXLL motifs are mutated retain most of their coactivator activity for the full-size AR, although they are no longer functional for the isolated LBD. Together, these data suggest that in the native AR the efficient recruitment of coactivators requires a functional association of the NTD with the LBD and that the binding of coactivators occurs primarily through the NTD.

The autonomous transactivation domain in helix H3 of the vitamin D receptor is required for transactivation and coactivator interaction

A ligand-inducible transactivation function (AF-2) exists in the extreme carboxyl terminus of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) that is essential for 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3)-activated transcription and p160 coactivator interaction. Crystallographic data of related nuclear receptors suggest that binding of 1, 25-(OH)2D3 by VDR induces conformational changes in the ligand-binding domain (LBD), the most striking of which is a packing of the AF-2 helix onto the LBD adjacent to helices H3 and H4. In this study, a panel of VDR helix H3 mutants was generated, and residues in helix H3 that are important for ligand-activated transcription by the full-length VDR were identified. In particular, one mutant (VDR (Y236A)) exhibited normal ligand binding and heterodimerization with the retinoid X receptor (RXR) but was transcriptionally inactive. Yeast two-hybrid studies and in vitro protein interaction assays demonstrated that VDR (Y236A) was selectively impaired in interaction with AF-2-interacting coactivator proteins such as SRC-1 and GRIP-1. These data indicate an importance of helix H3 in the mechanism of VDR-mediated transcription, and they support the concept that helix H3 functions in concert with the AF-2 domain to form a transactivation surface for binding the p160 class of nuclear receptor coactivators.

Ligand-independent recruitment of SRC-1 to estrogen receptor beta through phosphorylation of activation function AF-1

The estrogen receptors (ERs) alpha and beta possess a constitutive N-terminal activation function (AF-1) whose activity can be modulated by kinase signalling pathways. We demonstrate here that phosphorylation of AF-1 by MAP kinase (MAPK) leads to the recruitment of steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1) by ER beta in vitro. Enhancement of the interaction between SRC-1 and ER beta AF-1 is also observed in vivo in cells either treated with EGF or expressing activated Ras. Two serine residues in ER beta AF-1, of which one is contained within a motif present in other steroid receptors, are critical for physical interaction with SRC-1 and transcriptional activation. Our results establish a role for nuclear receptor phosphorylation in the recruitment of SRC-1 and provide a molecular basis for ligand-independent activation by ER beta via the MAPK pathway.

Mice deficient in the steroid receptor co-activator 1 (SRC-1) are resistant to thyroid hormone

Steroid receptor co-activator 1 (SRC-1) is a transcription co-factor that enhances the hormone-dependent action, mediated by the thyroid hormone (TH) receptor (TR) and other nuclear receptors. In vitro studies have shown that SRC-1 is necessary for the full expression of TH effect. SRC-1 knockout mice (SRC-1(-/-)) provide a model to examine the role of this co-activator on TH action in vivo. At baseline, SRC-1(-/-) mice display resistance to TH (RTH) as evidenced by a 2.5-fold elevation of serum TSH levels, despite a 50% increase in serum free TH levels as compared with wild-type (SRC-1(+/+)) mice. When mice were made hypothyroid, TSH levels increased, obliterating the difference between SRC-1(+/+) and SRC-1(-/-) mice observed at baseline. In contrast, the decline of TSH by treatment with L-triiodothyronine was severely blunted in SRC-1(-/-) mice. These data indicate that SRC-1 is not required for the upregulation of TSH in TH deficiency. However, SRC-1 enhances the sensitivity of TSH downregulation by TH. This is the first demonstration of RTH caused by a deficient co-factor other than TR. It supports the hypothesis that a putative defect in the SRC-1 gene or another co-factor could be the cause of RTH in humans without mutations in the TR genes.

Transcriptional regulation by a naturally occurring truncated rat estrogen receptor (ER), truncated ER product-1 (TERP-1)

Truncated estrogen receptor product-1 (TERP-1) is a naturally occurring rat estrogen receptor (ER) variant transcribed from a unique start site and containing a unique 5'-untranslated region fused to exons 5-8 of ERalpha. TERP-1 is detected only in the pituitary, and TERP-1 mRNA levels are highly regulated during the estrous cycle, exceeding those of the full-length ERalpha on proestrus. These data suggest that TERP-1 may play a role in estrogen- regulated feedback in the pituitary. We examined the ability of TERP-1 to modulate gene transcription in transiently transfected ER-negative (Cos-1) and ER-positive pituitary (alphaT3 and GH3) cell lines. In Cos-1 cells transiently cotransfected with TERP-1 and either ERalpha or ERbeta, low levels of TERP-1 (ratios of < 1:1 with ER) enhanced transcription of model promoters containing estrogen response elements by an average of 3- to 4-fold above that seen with ER alone. At higher concentrations of TERP-1 (> 1:1 with ER) transcription was inhibited. TERP-1 also had a biphasic action on transcription in the alphaT3 and GH3 pituitary cell lines, although the stimulatory action was less pronounced. TERP-1 actions were dependent on ligand-activated ER as TERP-1 did not bind estradiol in transfected Cos-1 cells or in vitro, and estrogen antagonists prevented the stimulatory effects of TERP-1. Coimmunoprecipitation studies suggest that TERP-1 does not bind with high affinity to the full-length ERalpha. However, TERP-1 may compete with ER for binding sites of receptor cofactors because steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1) rescued the inhibitory actions of TERP-1. The ability of TERP-1 to both enhance and inhibit ER-dependent promoter activity suggests that TERP-1 may play a physiological role in estrogen feedback in the rat pituitary.

Atomic structure of progesterone complexed with its receptor

The physiological effects of progestins are mediated by the progesterone receptor, a member of the steroid/nuclear receptor superfamily. As progesterone is required for maintenance of pregnancy, its receptor has been a target for pharmaceuticals. Here we report the 1.8 A crystal structure of a progesterone-bound ligand-binding domain of the human progesterone receptor. The nature of this structure explains the receptor's selective affinity for progestins and establishes a common mode of recognition of 3-oxy steroids by the cognate receptors. Although the overall fold of the progesterone receptor is similar to that found in related receptors, the progesterone receptor has a quite different mode of dimerization. A hormone-induced stabilization of the carboxy-terminal secondary structure of the ligand-binding domain of the progesterone receptor accounts for the stereochemistry of this distinctive dimer, explains the receptor's characteristic pattern of ligand-dependent protease resistance and its loss of repression, and indicates how the anti-progestin RU486 might work in birth control. The structure also indicates that the analogous 3-keto-steroid receptors may have a similar mechanism of action.

The steroid receptor coactivator-1 contains multiple receptor interacting and activation domains that cooperatively enhance the activation function 1 (AF1) and AF2 domains of steroid receptors

Steroid receptors are ligand-inducible transcription factors, and their association with steroid receptor coactivators (SRCs) upon binding to DNA is necessary for them to achieve full transcriptional potential. To understand the mechanism of SRC-1 action, its ability to interact and enhance the transcriptional activity of steroid receptors was analyzed. First, we show that SRC-1 is a modular coactivator that possesses intrinsic transcriptional activity when tethered to DNA and that it harbors two distinct activation domains, AD1 and AD2, needed for the maximum coactivation function of steroid receptors. We also demonstrate that SRC-1 interacts with both the amino-terminal A/B or AF1-containing domain and the carboxyl-terminal D/E or AF2-containing domain of the steroid receptors. These interactions are carried out by multiple regions of SRC-1, and they are relevant for transactivation. In addition to the inherent histone acetyltransferase activity of SRC-1, the presence of multiple receptor-coactivator interaction sites in SRC-1 and its ability to interact with components of the basic transcriptional machinery appears to be, at least in part, the mechanism by which the individual activation functions of the steroid receptors act cooperatively to achieve full transcriptional activity.

A nuclear receptor corepressor modulates transcriptional activity of antagonist-occupied steroid hormone receptor

Synthetic steroid hormone antagonists are clinically important compounds that regulate physiological responses to steroid hormones. The antagonists bind to the hormone receptors, which are ligand-inducible transcription factors, and modulate their gene-regulatory activities. In most instances, a steroid receptor, such as progesterone receptor (PR) or estrogen receptor (ER), is transcriptionally inactive when complexed with an antagonist and competitively inhibits transactivation of a target steroid-responsive gene by the cognate hormone-occupied receptor. In certain cellular and promoter contexts, however, antagonist-occupied PR or ER acquires paradoxical agonist-like activity. The cellular mechanisms that determine the switch from the negative to the positive mode of transcriptional regulation by an antagonist-bound steroid receptor are unknown. We now provide strong evidence supporting the existence of a cellular inhibitory cofactor that interacts with the B form of human PR (PR-B) complexed with the antiprogestin RU486 to maintain it in a transcriptionally inactive state. In the presence of unliganded thyroid hormone receptor (TR) or ER complexed with the antiestrogen 4-hydroxytamoxifen, which presumably sequesters a limiting pool of the inhibitory cofactor, RU486-PR-B functions as a transcriptional activator of a progesterone-responsive gene even in the absence of hormone agonist. In contrast, hormone-occupied TR or ER fails to induce transactivation by RU486-PR-B. Recent studies revealed that a transcriptional corepressor, NCoR (nuclear receptor corepressor), interacts with unliganded TR but not with liganded TR. Interestingly, coexpression of NCoR efficiently suppresses the partial agonistic activity of antagonist-occupied PR-B but fails to affect transactivation by agonist-bound PR-B. We further demonstrate that RU486-PR-B interacts physically with NCoR in vitro. These novel observations suggest that the inhibitory cofactor that associates with RU486-PR-B and represses its transcriptional activity is either identical or structurally related to the corepressor NCoR. We propose that cellular mechanisms that determine the switch from the antagonistic to the agonistic activity of RU486-PR-B involve removal of the corepressor from the antagonist-bound receptor so that it can effect partial but significant gene activation.

Role of the conserved C-terminal region of thyroid hormone receptor-alpha in ligand-dependent transcriptional activation

The ligand binding domain (LBD) of thyroid hormone (T3) receptors contains subdomains that participate in transcriptional activation, hormone-relieved repression and dimerization. A sequence conserved within the nuclear receptor superfamily is found at positions 397-405 of the 408-amino acid chicken T3 receptor-alpha (cTR alpha) and is deleted in the related avian v-erbA. Since v-erbA exhibits compromised ligand binding and transcriptional activation, this conserved region may play a role in ligand-dependent transcriptional activation. Transfections reveal that cTR alpha(1-392) and site-directed mutants cTR alpha(L398R) and cTR alpha(F399E) are inactive, while cTR alpha(1-403) displays reduced ligand-dependent transcriptional activity. The loss of transcriptional activity in cTR alpha(1-392) is not caused by impaired DNA binding or receptor dimer formation. Proteolytic protection assays reveal that both transcriptionally active and inactive cTR alpha derivatives undergo T3-mediated conformational changes. Gal4 chimeras containing the final 16, 35 or 44 amino acids of cTR alpha indicate that the conserved C-terminal region does not function as an independent transactivation domain. Our results are consistent with a model in which ligand plays a structural role to position the conserved C-terminal regions of cTR alpha and related receptors in a transcriptionally active conformation.