A rapid one-step method to purify baculovirus-expressed human estrogen receptor to be used in the analysis of the oxytocin promoter.

We have produced a truncated form of the human estrogen receptor (hER) as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase (GST) in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf) cells using the baculovirus expression vector (BEV) system. The protein is correctly produced and can be purified from crude whole-cell extracts by a single-step, batch-wise affinity-purification procedure. We show that this GST-hER fusion protein binds at its DNA-binding site specifically and in a hormone-inducible manner. Furthermore, we used the purified hER to analyze the complex estrogen response element (ERE) in the promoter of the oxytocin-encoding gene.

Increases in lung tissue expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 are associated with hyperoxic lung injury and inflammation in mice.

Lung injury caused by breathing enriched oxygen continues to be a major problem in clinical medicine. Experimentally, hyperoxic lung injury is characterized by pulmonary edema and associated neutrophil accumulation. Although extensively investigated, the mechanisms for neutrophil accumulation and the role of this accumulation in hyperoxic lung injury remain controversial. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is an adhesion molecule that when increased on endothelium by inflammatory cytokines leads to increased adhesion of neutrophils to the inflamed endothelium and transendothelial migration. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of inflammation in hyperoxia-induced lung injury by investigating ICAM-1 expression in the lungs of mice exposed to > 95% oxygen continuously. Lung tissue from mice exposed to > 95% oxygen was analyzed for ICAM-1 mRNA by slot blot analysis and for ICAM-1 protein expression. We also examined lungs from mice exposed to hyperoxia for up to 96 h by light microscopy to correlate pulmonary inflammation with ICAM-1 expression. We found that mRNA for ICAM-1 increased 56% over baseline after 48 h of exposure to hyperoxia, that ICAM-1 protein increased by more than 5-fold over baseline after 96 h of exposure to hyperoxia, and that lung inflammation and injury were not evident until 96 h of exposure. Our data demonstrate that exposure to hyperoxia causes an increase in ICAM-1 gene transcription and/or mRNA stability in mouse lungs, and that this increase is followed by an increase in ICAM-1 protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hormone activation of baculovirus expressed progesterone receptors.

Human and chicken progesterone receptors (A form) were overproduced in a baculovirus expression system. These recombinant progesterone receptors were full-length bound progesterone specifically and were recognized by monoclonal antibodies, AB52 and PR22, specific for human and chicken progesterone receptor, respectively. In gel retardation studies, binding of recombinant human and chicken progesterone receptors to their progesterone response element (PRE) was specific and was enhanced in the presence of progesterone. Binding of human progesterone receptor to the PRE was also enhanced in the presence of the antiprogestin, RU486, but very little effect was observed in the presence of estradiol, dexamethasone, testosterone, and vitamin D. In our cell-free transcription system, human progesterone receptor induced transcription in a receptor-dependent and hormone-activable manner. Receptor-stimulated transcription required the presence of the PRE in the test template and could be specifically inhibited by excess PRE oligonucleotides. Furthermore, chicken progesterone receptor also induced in vitro transcription in a hormone-activable manner. These results demonstrate that steroid receptors overexpressed in a baculovirus expression system are functional and exhibit steroid-responsive binding and transcription. These observations support our present understanding of the mechanism of steroid receptor-regulated gene expression and provide a technological format for studies of the role of hormone and antihormone in altering gene expression.

Antiestrogen can establish nonproductive receptor complexes and alter chromatin structure at target enhancers.

We describe in this report experiments in vivo that demonstrate that antiestrogens promote DNA binding of the estrogen receptor without efficiently inducing transcription. When the receptor is modified to carry a foreign unregulated transactivation domain, transcription can be induced efficiently by both estrogen and antiestrogens. Under apparent saturation conditions, antihormone-receptor complexes binding to responsive enhancer elements elicit only a low level of transcription. In addition, we show that both estrogen and an antiestrogen, nafoxidine, effect very similar alterations in chromatin structure at a responsive promoter. These results indicate that in vivo steroid receptor action can be regulated subsequent to the DNA binding step, by regulating interactions with the target transcriptional machinery. In this regard, antihormones can function by establishing receptor-DNA complexes that are transcriptionally nonproductive.

Mechanism of estrogen receptor-dependent transcription in a cell-free system.

RNA synthesis was stimulated directly in a cell-free expression system by crude preparations of recombinant mouse estrogen receptor (ER). Receptor-stimulated transcription required the presence of estrogen response elements (EREs) in the test template and could be specifically inhibited by addition of competitor oligonucleotides containing EREs. Moreover, polyclonal antibodies directed against the DNA-binding region of ER inhibited ER-dependent transcription. In our cell-free expression system, hormone-free ER induced transcription in a hormone-independent manner. Evidence is presented suggesting that ER acts by facilitating the formation of a stable preinitiation complex at the target gene promoter and thus augments the initiation of transcription by RNA polymerase II. These observations lend support to our current understanding of the mechanism of steroid receptor-regulated gene expression and suggest strong conservation of function among members of the steroid receptor superfamily.

Superactive estrogen receptors. Potent activators of gene expression.

We have constructed novel chimeric receptors consisting of the activation region of the herpes simplex virus transcription factor VP16 inserted into the amino-terminal region of the human estrogen receptor containing or lacking the hormone-binding region. By gene transfer into mammalian cells, these chimeric receptors behave in a hormone-dependent or hormone-independent manner, respectively, and are more efficient activators of gene expression than wild-type estrogen receptor. These studies indicate that a potent activation region from a viral transcription factor can be placed under hormonal control when introduced into a steroid receptor molecule and can enhance the receptor's potency (approximately 10-fold) in activating specific gene expression. It is likely that such chimeric molecules could be designed to increase selected target gene responses to any intracellular receptor in the course of cellular transfection, transformation, or transgenic animal experiments.

Steroid hormone-dependent interaction of human progesterone receptor with its target enhancer element.

We investigated the requirement of steroid hormone for the specific binding of progesterone receptor to its cognate progesterone responsive element (PRE) in cell-free experiments. We prepared unfractionated nuclear extracts from human breast cancer (T47D) cells which are rich in progesterone receptors and used a gel retardation assay to monitor receptor-DNA complex formation. Exposure of receptor to either progesterone, R5020, or the antiprogestin RU38 486 in vivo or in vitro led to the formation of two protein-DNA complexes (1 and 2) which were not detected in nuclear extracts unexposed to hormone. Similar treatment with cortisol or estradiol failed to induce the formation of these complexes. The complexes were specific for PRE, since they could be competed efficiently in binding competition experiments by oligonucleotides containing PRE. A monoclonal antibody which recognizes both A and B forms of human progesterone receptor, interacted with both complexes 1 and 2 and shifted them to slower migrating forms. Another antibody which only recognizes the B form interacted with only complex 1 but not with complex 2, establishing that the complexes 1 and 2 were indeed formed by progesterone receptor forms B and A, respectively. We conclude from the above studies that in vivo or in vitro treatment of nuclear progesterone receptor with either progesterone or R5020 or RU38 486 alone can lead to detection of high affinity complexes formed between the PRE and the receptor present in unpurified nuclear extracts.

Comparative analysis of estrogen receptors covalently labeled with an estrogen and an antiestrogen in several estrogen target cells as studied by limited proteolysis.

Estrogen receptors covalently labeled with the estrogen affinity label [3H]ketononestrol aziridine (KNA) or with the antiestrogen affinity label [3H]tamoxifen aziridine (TAZ) were subjected to limited proteolysis with trypsin, alpha-chymotrypsin, and Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease and then analyzed on 10-20% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gradient gels followed by fluorography. The similar molecular weights of intact receptors (Mr 66,000 daltons) and the proteolytic digest patterns indicate extensive homology among estrogen receptors from MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, GH4 rat pituitary cells and rat uterus when liganded with estrogen or antiestrogen. Each protease generated a distinctive ladder of estrogen receptor fragments, and the fragmentation patterns were virtually identical for estrogen receptors labeled with estrogen (KNA) or antiestrogen (TAZ). Each protease yielded a relatively "resistant" receptor fragment of about 28,000-35,000 daltons. Trypsin and chymotrypsin at higher concentrations generated a much smaller 6,000-8,000 dalton digest product that still contained the [3H]KNA- or [3H]TAZ-labeled receptor binding site. Moreover, the receptor digest patterns were similar for estrogen receptors from the three different target cells. Our studies suggest considerable structural relatedness among these three estrogen receptors and also indicate that these two affinity labels bind to a similar, perhaps identical, region of the receptor molecule.

Desmethylnafoxidine aziridine: an electrophilic affinity label for the estrogen receptor with high efficiency and selectivity.

Desmethylnafoxidine aziridine (Naf-Az), an affinity label for the estrogen receptor based structurally on the antiestrogen nafoxidine, has been prepared in unlabeled and in high specific activity, tritium-labeled form and has been evaluated for its apparent competitive binding, and time-dependent irreversible, covalent attachment to the estrogen receptor. Naf-Az was synthesized through a key 1,2-diaryl-3,4-dihydronaphthalene intermediate that was prepared from 6-methoxy-1-tetralone by two routes involving alternate strategies for arylation. Conversion of the diaryldihydronaphthalene to Naf-Az through a series of deprotection-activation reactions culminated in ethyleneimine displacement of a methanesulfonate. The tritium-labeled material was prepared by tritium-iodine exchange on an iodinated methanesulfonate precursor, followed by ethyleneimine displacement. Compared to our previously-prepared reagent tamoxifen aziridine (Tam-Az), Naf-Az has a higher apparent competitive binding affinity, and it reacts with the estrogen receptor in cytosol preparations and in intact MCF-7 breast cancer cells rapidly and with at least comparable efficiency and selectivity. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis confirms its selective labeling of the Mr 66,000 estrogen receptor. Naf-Az should prove to be useful in studies aimed at characterizing the properties and structure of estrogen receptors.

Ketononestrol aziridine, an agonistic estrogen receptor affinity label: study of its bioactivity and estrogen receptor covalent labeling.

Ketononestrol aziridine [(6R,TS)1-(N-aziridinyl)6,7-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)5-nonamone (KNA)], an aziridine derivative of hexestrol, is an estrogenic affinity label for the estrogen receptor (ER). It has an apparent relative binding affinity 8% that of estradiol and shows time-dependent irreversible binding to the ER in uterine cytosol preparations and intact human breast cancer cells (MCF-7). The agonistic activity of KNA is evident in MCF-7 cells in culture, where it increases the cell growth rate and elevates the level of progesterone receptor. KNA was prepared in high specific activity tritium-labeled form by iodination of a methanesulfonate precursor, followed by catalytic tritium-iodine exchange and aziridinylation; the material prepared has high radiochemical purity and a specific activity of 67 Ci/mmol. The covalent attachment of [3H]KNA to the ER can be followed directly by a solvent precipitation assay. In cytosol preparations of uterine ER, labeling with [3H]KNA proceeds in a time-, concentration-, and temperature-dependent manner; labeling is efficient and selective and, by competition studies, was shown to be estrogen specific. ER in intact MCF-7 cells can also be covalently labeled by treatment with [3H]KNA. Receptor covalently labeled with [3H]KNA sediments as a 4S species on high salt sucrose gradients, and its sedimentation position is shifted by treatment with monoclonal antireceptor antibodies. On sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels, the principal labeled species migrates with a mol wt of 66,000. KNA should prove to be a useful probe for studies on receptor structure, function, and chromatin interactions, particularly when the behavior of a receptor-agonist complex is being investigated.

Structural analysis of covalently labeled estrogen receptors by limited proteolysis and monoclonal antibody reactivity.

We have used limited proteolysis of affinity-labeled estrogen receptors (ER), coupled with antireceptor antibody immunoreactivity, to assess structural features of ER and the relatedness of ER from MCF-7 human breast cancer and rat uterine cells. MCF-7 ER preparations covalently labeled with [3H]tamoxifen aziridine [( 3H]TAZ) were treated with trypsin (T), alpha-chymotrypsin (C), or Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease prior to electrophoresis on sodium dodecyl sulfate gels. Fluorography revealed a distinctive ladder of ER fragments containing TAZ for each protease generated from the Mr 66,000 ER: for T, fragments of 50K, 38K, 36K, 31K, 29K, and 28K that with longer exposure generated a 6K fragment; for C, fragments of 50K, 38K, 35K, 33K, 31K, 19K, and 18K that with longer exposure generated 14K and 6K fragments; and for V8, ca. 10 fragments between 62K and 28K. Two-dimensional gels revealed charge heterogeneity (two to three spots between pI 5.5 and 6.2) of the 66K ER and the T-generated 28K meroreceptor form. Immunoblot detection with the primate-specific antibody D75P3 gamma revealed that all immunoreactive fragments corresponded to TAZ-labeled fragments but that some small TAZ-labeled fragments (V8-generated forms less than 47K and T-generated forms less than 31K) were no longer immunoreactive. In contrast, use of the antibody H222Sp gamma revealed a correspondence between TAZ-labeled and immunoreactive fragments down to the smallest fragments generated, ca. 6K for T and C and 28K for V8. MCF-7 nuclear and cytosol ER showed very similar digest patterns, and there was a remarkable similarity in the TAZ-labeled and H222-immunoreactive fragments generated by proteolysis of both MCF-7 and rat uterine ER. These findings reveal great structural similarities between the human (breast cancer) and rat (uterine) ER and between nuclear and cytosol ER, indicate charge heterogeneity of ER, and allow a comparison of the immunoreactive and hormone attachment site domains of the ER. The observation that T and C generate a ca. 6K TAZ-labeled fragment that is also detectable with the H222 antibody should be of interest in studies determining the hormone binding domain of the ER and in amino acid sequencing of this region.

[125I]iododesethyl tamoxifen aziridine: synthesis and covalent labeling of the estrogen receptor with an iodine-labeled affinity label.

Iododesethyl tamoxifen aziridine (I-Tam-Az), an analog of the estrogen receptor-affinity label tamoxifen aziridine (Tam-Az) in which the ethyl group has been replaced by an iodine, has been prepared by two routes: (a) metallation of a bromotriarylethylene system, followed by reaction with iodine, and aziridinylation, and (b) direct iodination of a trimethylstannyl triarylethylene system that is the immediate precursor of I-Tam-Az. The latter method can be used to prepare [125I]I-Tam-Az rapidly and in good yield, both at carrier-added and no-carrier-added levels; specific activities greater than 200 Ci/mmol have been obtained. In competitive radiometric binding assays with the estrogen receptor, I-Tam-Az has an apparent affinity of ca. 20%, equivalent to that of Tam-Az. It also undergoes rapid and selective time-dependent, irreversible binding to the estrogen receptor. [125I]I-Tam-Az reacts covalently with estrogen receptor in uterine cytosol preparations; its attachment is rapid and efficient, but somewhat less selective than that of Tam-Az. Estrogen receptor in intact MCF-7 human breast cancer cells can also be labeled with [125I]I-Tam-Az, and autoradiographic analysis of salt extracts of labeled nuclear estrogen receptor on SDS-polyacrylamide slab gels shows highly selective labeling of a 65K protein. [125I]I-Tam-Az is an efficient, selective affinity label for the estrogen receptor, available at high specific activity, and should be useful in studies on estrogen receptor structure, dynamics, and chromatin interactions.