ABSTRACT
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) regulates metabolic homeostasis and is a molecular target for anti-diabetic drugs. We report here the identification of a steroid receptor ligand, RU-486, as an unexpected PPARγ agonist, thereby uncovering a novel signaling route for this steroid drug. Similar to rosiglitazone, RU-486 modulates the expression of key PPARγ target genes and promotes adipocyte differentiation, but with a lower adipogenic activity. Structural and functional studies of receptor-ligand interactions reveal the molecular basis for a unique binding mode for RU-486 in the PPARγ ligand-binding pocket with distinctive properties and epitopes, providing the molecular mechanisms for the discrimination of RU-486 from thiazolidinediones (TZDs) drugs. Our findings together indicate that steroid compounds may represent an alternative approach for designing non-TZD PPARγ ligands in the treatment of insulin resistance.
Subject(s)
Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects , Mifepristone/chemistry , Mifepristone/pharmacology , Nuclear Receptor Coactivators/chemistry , Nuclear Receptor Coactivators/genetics , Adipocytes/drug effects , Adipocytes/metabolism , Adipogenesis/drug effects , Animals , Binding Sites , COS Cells , Chlorocebus aethiops , Humans , Ligands , Nuclear Receptor Coactivators/agonists , Protein Binding , Protein Conformation , Protein Structure, Tertiary , Signal Transduction , Structure-Activity Relationship , Thiazolidinediones/chemistryABSTRACT
Iloprost is a prostacyclin analog that has been used to treat many vascular conditions. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are ligand-regulated transcription factors with various important biological effects such as metabolic and cardiovascular physiology. Here, we report the crystal structures of the PPARα ligand-binding domain and PPARδ ligand-binding domain bound to iloprost, thus providing unambiguous evidence for the direct interaction between iloprost and PPARs and a structural basis for the recognition of PPARα/δ by this prostacyclin analog. In addition to conserved contacts for all PPARα ligands, iloprost also initiates several specific interactions with PPARs using its unique structural groups. Structural and functional studies of receptor-ligand interactions reveal strong functional correlations of the iloprost-PPARα/δ interactions as well as the molecular basis of PPAR subtype selectivity toward iloprost ligand. As such, the structural mechanism may provide a more rational template for designing novel compounds targeting PPARs with more favorable pharmacologic impact based on existing iloprost drugs.
