Mg2+ and Ca2+ differentially regulate DNA binding and dimerization of DREAM.

DREAM (calsenilin/KChIP3) is an EF-hand calcium-binding protein that represses transcription of prodynorphin and c-fos genes. Here we present structural and binding studies on single-site mutants of DREAM designed to disable Ca(2+) binding to each of the functional EF-hands (EF-2: D150N; EF-3: E186Q; and EF-4: E234Q). Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) analysis of Ca(2+) binding to the various mutants revealed that, in the absence of Mg(2+), Ca(2+) binds independently and sequentially to EF-3 (DeltaH = -2.4 kcal/mol), EF-4 (DeltaH = +5.2 kcal/mol), and EF-2 (DeltaH = +1 kcal/mol). By contrast, only two Ca(2+) bind to DREAM in the presence of physiological levels of Mg(2+) for both wild-type and D150N, suggesting that EF-2 binds constitutively to Mg(2+). ITC measurements demonstrate that one Mg(2+) binds enthalpically with high affinity (K(d) = 13 mum and DeltaH = -0.79 kcal/mol) and two or more Mg(2+) bind entropically in the millimolar range. Size-exclusion chromatography studies revealed that Mg(2+) stabilizes DREAM as a monomer, whereas Ca(2+) induces protein dimerization. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays indicated that Mg(2+) is essential for sequence-specific binding of DREAM to DNA response elements (DREs) in prodynorphin and c-fos genes. The EF-hand mutants bind specifically to DRE, suggesting they are functionally intact. None of the EF-hand mutants bind DRE at saturating Ca(2+) levels, suggesting that binding of a single Ca(2+) at either EF-3 or EF-4 is sufficient to drive conformational changes that abolish DNA binding. NMR structural analysis indicates that metal-free DREAM adopts a folded yet flexible molten globule-like structure. Both Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) induce distinct conformational changes, which stabilize tertiary structure of DREAM. We propose that Mg(2+) binding at EF-2 may structurally bridge DREAM to DNA targets and that Ca(2+)-induced protein dimerization disrupts DNA binding.

Expression of the 1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D3 receptor gene during the differentiation of mouse Ob17 preadipocytes and cross talk with the thyroid hormone receptor signalling pathway.

1,25-(OH)2-Vitamin D3 (1,25-D3) and the thyroid hormone tri-iodothyronine (T3) were previously shown to behave as adipogenic agents in murine Ob17 preadipocytes. Moreover, these agents interfere with each other's action during adipocyte differentiation. T3 receptor (TR) expression and a downmodulation of T3 binding sites (TR sites) by 1,25-D3 were also reported. A cross talk at the T3 and 1,25-D3 receptor (VDR) level was suggested. We report here that Ob17 cells contain VDR receptor sites in markedly modulated number. This includes a sharp decrease during differentiation that was largely counteracted by 1,25-D3 added to preadipocytes in physiological, adipogenic concentrations. In parallel, the VDR mRNA level did not change significantly, neither did a variant produced by alternative splicing in the penultimate exon and defined for the first time in the mouse. The differentiation- and 1,25-D3-related modulations of VDR sites are likely to be, at least for the most part, the result of variations in abundance of the VDR protein, and may thus mainly involve post-translational events. In contrast, the addition of T3 to the preadipocytes amplified the differentiation-related decrease in VDR sites, even in the presence of 1,25-D3. T3 significantly decreased the levels of VDR transcripts and thus mainly exerts a pretranslational action. With regard to the reciprocal downmodulation of the TR sites (identified as almost exclusively of the TRalpha type) by physiological concentrations of 1,25-D3, a post-translational action and a sequestration of the TR sites had previously been suggested and are further studied here. Analyses of receptor properties after co-incubations of recombinant VDRs and TRs did not favour direct VDR-TR interaction as a main cause of TR site sequestration. Interestingly, when taken together, the data on downregulation of VDRs and TRs by the alternate ligands define a potential step in the cross talk exerted between 1,25-D3 and T3 for their adipogenic action. In addition, the present results also show for the first time that 1,25-D3 acts as a strong trigger of a transient expression of TRbeta1 subtype at an early preadipocyte step, an effect that had previously been assigned to T3. This last interesting event introduces further incentive for deciphering the T3/1,25-D3 cross talk in preadipocyte differentiation.