Cholesterol and hydroxycholesterol sulfotransferases: identification, distinction from dehydroepiandrosterone sulfotransferase, and differential tissue expression.

In humans, the biotransformation of cholesterol and its hydroxylated metabolites (oxysterols) by sulfonation is a fundamental process of great importance. Nevertheless, the sulfotransferase enzyme(s) that carries out this function has never been clearly identified. Cholesterol is a relatively poor substrate for the previously cloned hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase (HST), i.e. dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) sulfotransferase (HST1). Recently, cloning of a single human gene that encodes for two proteins related to HST1 was reported. These newly cloned sulfotransferases (HST2a and HST2b), while exhibiting sequence similarity to other members of the soluble sulfotransferase superfamily, also contain unique structural features. This latter aspect prompted an examination of their substrate specificity for comparison with HST1. Thus, HST1, HST2a, and HST2b were overexpressed as fusion proteins and purified. Furthermore, a novel procedure for the isolation of cholesterol and oxysterol sulfonates was developed that was used in association with HPLC to resolve specific sterol sulfonates. HST1 preferentially sulfonated DHEA and, to a lesser extent, oxysterols; whereas cholesterol was a negligible substrate. The reverse, however, was the case for the HST2 isoforms, particularly HST2b, which preferentially sulfonated cholesterol and oxysterols, in contrast to DHEA, which served as a poor substrate for this enzyme. RT-PCR analysis revealed distinct patterns of HST1, HST2a, and HST2b expression. It was particularly notable that both HST2 isoforms, but not HST1, were expressed in skin, a tissue where cholesterol sulfonation plays an important role in normal development of the skin barrier. In conclusion, substrate specificity and tissue distribution studies strongly suggest that HST2a and HST2b, in contrast to HST1, represent normal human cholesterol and oxysterol sulfotransferases. Furthermore, this study represents the first example of the sulfonation of oxysterols by a specific human HST.

Transcriptional regulation of human 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate synthase 1.

Sulfonation, which is essential for normal growth, development and maintenance of the internal milieu, requires the universal sulfonate donor molecule 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) produced from ATP and inorganic sulfate by two bifunctional PAPS synthase isozymes. The gene for PAPS synthase 1 containing neither a TATA nor a CCAAT box was found to be under the influence of the Sp1 family of transcription factors. Multiple GC/GT boxes are present in the proximal promoter region and deletion analysis implicated their involvement in transcription, a finding supported by mutational analysis of specific GC/GT boxes. Nuclear extract of SW13 cells, which highly express PAPS synthase 1, contains proteins that bind to probes possessing specific GC/GT boxes; furthermore, the presence of Sp1, Sp2, and Sp3 proteins in nuclear extracts was confirmed by supershift analysis. Cotransfection experiments using SL2 cells yielded additional support for the involvement of Sp1 in transcriptional regulation of the PAPS synthase 1 gene; the involvement of Sp2 and/or Sp3 is presently unclear.

Testosterone sulfotransferase: evidence in the guinea pig that this reaction is carried out by 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase.

During the course of isolating, characterizing, and cloning estrogen and 3-hydroxysteroid sulfotransferases from the guinea pig adrenal gland, it was noted that cytosolic preparations from this tissue would also sulfonate testosterone. Therefore, we set out to isolate and clone the enzyme that performs this reaction. Testosterone sulfotransferase (TST) was isolated from the guinea pig adrenal by using the standard procedures of ion exchange, affinity, and high-performance liquid chromatography. When purified, TST was examined by liquid-phase nondenaturing isoelectric focusing, it was found that the TST activity profile completely overlapped with the activity profile of the 3alpha-hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase (3alphaHST) isoform, but not the 3beta-hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase (3betaHST) isoform. This finding was further investigated by overexpressing the cDNAs for 3alphaHST and 3betaHST in Escherichia coli and examining the expressed proteins for TST activity. This experiment confirmed that 3alphaHST does indeed function as a TST. In addition, 3alphaHST was also found to sulfonate estradiol but not estrone, a finding that further suggested that 3alphaHST may function as a general 17beta-hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase.

Identification by chimera formation and site-selected mutagenesis of a key amino acid residue involved in determining stereospecificity of guinea pig 3-hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase isoforms.

The 3-hydroxysteroid sulfotransferases that have been isolated and cloned from humans and rodents appear to have broad substrate specificities. In the guinea pig, however, two 3-hydroxysteroid sulfotransferases have been isolated that function according to an innate stereospecificity: the alpha-isoform acts on steroids with a 3-hydroxyl group oriented in the alpha position, whereas the beta-isoform acts on steroids where the 3-hydroxyl group is in a beta orientation. To examine the structural basis for this remarkable stereoselectivity, chimeras of the two enzymes, which are 87% identical, were constructed. A chimera consisting of the NH(2)-terminal 91 amino acids of the alpha-isoform and the COOH-terminal 196 amino acids of the beta-isoform displayed activity similar to that of the alpha-isoform. Site-selected mutagenesis of this 3alpha/beta-hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase chimera involving the 12 amino acid differences that exist between the two isoforms within the 91 amino acid NH(2)-terminal region revealed that the amino acid residue at position 51 plays a fundamental role in determining the stereospecificity exhibited by the alpha- and beta-isoforms, i.e. if residue 51 is an asparagine, alpha activity predominates, whereas if an isoleucine is in that position, beta activity prevails.

Site-selected mutagenesis of a conserved nucleotide binding HXGH motif located in the ATP sulfurylase domain of human bifunctional 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate synthase.

3'-Phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) synthase is a bifunctional protein consisting of an NH2-terminal APS kinase and a COOH-terminal ATP sulfurylase. Both catalytic activities require ATP; the APS kinase domain involves cleavage of the beta-gamma phosphodiester bond of ATP, whereas the ATP sulfurylase domain involves cleavage of the alpha-beta phosphodiester bond of ATP. Previous mutational studies have suggested that beta-gamma phosphodiesterase activity involves a highly conserved NTP-binding P-loop motif located in the adenosine-5'-phosphosulfate kinase domain of PAPS synthases. Sequence alignment analysis of PAPS synthases and the superfamily of TagD-related nucleotidylyltransferases revealed the presence of a highly conserved HXGH motif in the ATP sulfurylase domain of PAPS synthases, a motif implicated in the alpha-beta phosphodiesterase activity of cytidylyltransferases. Thus, site-selected mutagenesis of the HXGH motif in the ATP sulfurylase domain of human PAPS synthase (amino acids 425-428) was performed to examine this possibility. Either H425A or H428A mutation produced an inactive enzyme. In contrast, a N426K mutation resulted in increased enzymatic activity. A G427A single mutant resulted in only a modest 30% reduction in catalytic activity, whereas a G427A/H428A double mutant produced an inactive enzyme. These results suggest an important role for the HXGH histidines in the ATP sulfurylase activity of bifunctional PAPS synthase and support the hypothesis that the highly conserved HXGH motif found in the ATP sulfurylase domain of PAPS synthases is involved in ATP binding and alpha-beta phosphodiesterase activity.

Molecular cloning, expression, and characterization of human bifunctional 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate synthase and its functional domains.

The universal sulfonate donor, 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS), is synthesized by the concerted action of ATP sulfurylase and adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (APS) kinase, which in animals are fused into a bifunctional protein. The cDNA for human PAPS synthase (hPAPSS) along with polymerase chain reaction products corresponding to several NH2- and COOH-terminal fragments were cloned and expressed in COS-1 cells. A 1-268-amino acid fragment expressed APS kinase activity, whereas a 220-623 fragment evinced ATP sulfurylase activity. The 1-268 fragment and full-length hPAPSS (1-623) exhibited hyperbolic responses against APS substrate with equivalent Km values (0.6 and 0.4 microM, respectively). The 1-268 fragment demonstrated Michaelis-Menten kinetics against ATP as substrate (Km 0.26 mM); however, full-length hPAPSS exhibited a sigmoidal response (apparent Km 1.5 mM) suggesting cooperative binding. Catalytic efficiency (Vmax/Km) of the 1-268 fragment was 64-fold higher than full-length hPAPSS for ATP. The kinetic data suggest that the COOH-terminal domain of hPAPSS exerts a regulatory role over APS kinase activity located in the NH2-terminal domain of this bifunctional protein. In addition, the 1-268 fragment and full-length hPAPSS were overexpressed in Escherichia coli and column purified. Purified full-length hPAPSS, in contrast to the COS-1 cell-expressed cDNA construct, exhibited a hyperbolic response curve against ATP suggesting that hPAPSS is perhaps modified in vivo.

Proposed active site domain in estrogen sulfotransferase as determined by mutational analysis.

Point mutations were selectively introduced into a cDNA for guinea pig estrogen sulfotransferase (gpEST); each construct was then expressed in Chinese hamster ovary K1 cells. The molecular site chosen for study is a conserved GXXGXXK sequence that resembles the P-loop-type nucleotide-binding motif for ATP- and GTP-binding proteins and is located near the C terminus of all steroid and phenol(aryl) sulfotransferases for which the primary structures are known. Preliminary experiments demonstrated that the GXXGXXK motif is essential for binding the activated sulfonate donor 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS). The present study was undertaken to ascertain the relative importance of each individual residue of the motif. While the mutation of a single motif residue had little effect on the interaction between gpEST and PAPS as determined by kinetic analysis and photoaffinity labeling, the mutation of any two residues in concert resulted in an approximate 10-fold increase in the Km for PAPS and reduced photoaffinity labeling. The mutation of all three motif residues resulted in an inactive enzyme and complete loss of photoaffinity labeling. Interestingly, several mutants also displayed a striking effect on the Km for the steroid substrate; double mutants, again, demonstrated greater perturbations (8- to 28-fold increase) than did single mutants. Unexpectedly, whereas the mutation of nonmotif residues had a negligible effect on the Km for PAPS, a marked increase in the Km for the estrogen substrate ( > 30-fold) was noted. On the basis of these findings, it is concluded that the sequence GISGDWKN within the C-terminal domain of gpEST represents a critical component of the active site.

Molecular cloning and expression of a guinea pig 3-hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase distinct from chiral-specific 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase.

A guinea pig adrenal hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase (gpHST2) has been cloned that is distinct from guinea pig hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase that stereoselectively acts on 3 alpha-hydroxylated neutral steroids (gp3 alpha HST, redesignated gpHST1). The deduced amino acid sequences for gpHST1 and gpHST2 are 86% identical; however, whereas gpHST1 selectively acts on 3 alpha-hydroxylated steroids, gpHST2 demonstrates a clear preference (but not exclusive specificity) for 3 beta-hydroxylated steroids suggesting that gpHST2 is similar to a previously reported guinea pig hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase that selectively acts on 3 beta-hydroxylated neutral steroids (gp3 beta HST). Additionally, gpHST2 (33K) is the same size as gp3 beta HST and larger than gpHST1 (32K), contains amino acid sequences identical to peptides obtained from gp3 beta HST and cross-reacts with antibodies raised against purified gp3 beta HST. Nonetheless, gpHST2 can sulfonate both 3 alpha- and 3 beta-hydroxylated neutral steroids, suggesting that either gp3 beta HST does not have the exquisite stereoselectivity previously indicated or this subfamily of hydroxysteroid sulfotransferases is larger than originally thought.

The 3'-terminal exon of the family of steroid and phenol sulfotransferase genes is spliced at the N-terminal glycine of the universally conserved GXXGXXK motif that forms the sulfonate donor binding site.

The guinea pig estrogen sulfotransferase gene has been cloned and compared to three other cloned steroid and phenol sulfotransferase genes (human estrogen sulfotransferase, human phenol sulfotransferase, and guinea pig 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase). The four sulfotransferase genes demonstrate a common outstanding feature: the splice sites for their 3'-terminal exons are identically located. That is, the 3'-terminal exon splice sites involve a glycine that constitutes the N-terminal glycine of an invariably conserved GXXGXXK motif present in all steroid and phenol sulfotransferases for which primary structures are known. This consistency strongly suggests that all steroid and phenol sulfotransferase genes will be similarly spliced. The GXXGXXK motif forms the active binding site for the universal sulfonate donor 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate. Amino acid sequence alignment of 19 cloned steroid and phenol sulfotransferases starting with the GXXGXXK motif indicates that the 3'-terminal exon for each steroid and phenol sulfotransferase gene encodes a similarly sized C-terminal fragment of the protein. Interestingly, on further analysis of the alignment, three distinct amino acid sequence patterns emerge. The presence of the conserved functional GXXGXXK motif suggests that the protein domains encoded by steroid and phenol sulfotransferase 3'-terminal exons have evolved from a common ancestor. Furthermore, it is hypothesized that during the course of evolution, the 3'-terminal exon further diverged into at least three sulfotransferase subdivisions: a phenol or aryl group, an estrogen or phenolic steroid group, and a neutral steroid group.

Adrenocortical pregnenolone binding activity resides with estrogen sulfotransferase.

Cytosol prepared from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 cells transfected with guinea pig estrogen sulfotransferase (EST) cDNA demonstrated high affinity binding activity for pregnenolone as well as 17 beta-estradiol but failed to bind dehydroepiandrosterone or testosterone. In contrast, cytosol prepared from nontransfected CHO-K1 cells did not demonstrate steroid binding activity. Additionally, the binding activity for pregnenolone and 17 beta-estradiol was dependent on the presence of the cofactor adenosine-3',5'-diphosphate. Pregnenolone and 17 beta-estradiol effectively competed with each other for binding. On the other hand, pregnenolone, which was not sulfonated, did not inhibit the sulfonation of 17 beta-estradiol by expressed EST.

Structural and functional characterization of estrogen sulfotransferase isoforms: distinct catalytic and high affinity binding activities.

Estrogen sulfotransferase (EST) purified from the guinea pig (gp) adrenal gland consists of multiple charge isoforms with isoelectric points (pls) ranging from 6.5 to 5.2. Four individual isoforms were isolated for use in antibody production, as well as for tryptic fragmentation analysis. The multiple charge isoforms manifested a high degree of relatedness as evidence by complete immunocross-reactivity. This relatedness was further demonstrated by peptide mapping analysis, which revealed essentially identical elution profiles for three of the isoforms, whereas the fourth most acidic isoform, although similar to the other three isoforms, demonstrated some differences. To further explore the nature of the charge isoforms, native gpEST and EST expressed by CHO-K1 cells transfected with the gpEST cDNA were subjected to additional biochemical characterization. An interesting finding was that, in addition to EST activity, gpEST bound estradiol with a high affinity [dissociation constant (Kd) 10 nM]; furthermore, the binding activity was absolutely dependent on the cofactor, adenosine-3',5'-diphosphate (3',5'-ADP). An unexpected and novel finding was that only the most basic pl 6.5 isoform was catalytically active, while estradiol-binding activity was associated with a more acidic isoform (pl 5.5-5.2); however, it has not as yet been possible to definitively assign the binding activity to a specific isoform.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A P-loop related motif (GxxGxxK) highly conserved in sulfotransferases is required for binding the activated sulfate donor.

A nucleotide binding motif termed the P-loop has been described for ATP- and GTP-binding proteins. The primary structure typically consists of a glycine-rich region followed by a conserved lysine. A related structure (GxxGxxK) noted in sulfotransferases has been suggested to be important for the binding of the cofactor 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS), the universal sulfate donor for this class of enzymes. Using molecular techniques, point mutations that substituted alanines for the putative critical residues were introduced into the cDNA for estrogen sulfotransferase. The altered construct, although fully expressed by Chinese hamster ovary-K1 cells, demonstrated negligible enzymatic activity and failed to photoaffinity label with [35S]PAPS. In contrast, a construct in which three other amino acids in the region of the P-loop motif were similarly mutated retained activity and was photoaffinity labeled with [35S]PAPS. These data strongly support the notion that the P-loop motif found in all cloned sulfotransferases constitutes, at least in part, the PAPS binding site for these enzymes.

Characterization of guinea pig estrogen sulfotransferase expressed by Chinese hamster ovary cell-K1 stable transfectants.

Estrogen sulfotransferase (EST) activity expressed by Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 cells stably transfected with a plasmid containing a guinea pig EST complementary DNA insert was subjected to biochemical characterization, and the EST protein was further examined by nondenaturing isoelectric focusing and immunoblot analysis. CHO-K1 cells transfected with the same plasmid without the EST complementary DNA insert as well as untransfected CHO-K1 cells did not demonstrate either EST activity or the presence of an immunologically related protein. The EST expressed by the stably transfected CHO-K1 cells was found to manifest Michaelis-Menten kinetics and would use only estrogenic steroids as substrates, whereas other forms of steroids, such as pregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone, cortisol, and testosterone, were not acted on. When 17 beta-estradiol was used as a substrate, sulfonation occurred exclusively at the 3 position; 17-sulfonate was not formed. Thus, the expressed EST acted selectively on the 3-hydroxyl group of phenolic steroids. The apparent Km values for estrone, 17 beta-estradiol, and estriol were 60, 70, and 40 nM, respectively. The maximum velocity (Vmax) determinations for estrone and 17 beta-estradiol were equivalent, whereas the Vmax for estriol was reduced by 33%. Of the three estrogens, only 17 beta-estradiol caused substrate inhibition at a high concentration. Steroid sulfonation requires 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) as the active sulfonate donor, and the Km value for PAPS was 1.2 microM. In steroid sulfotransferase reactions, two products are formed: the sulfonated steroid product and the desulfonated cofactor, 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphate (PAP). The sulfonation of 17 beta-estradiol was inhibited by PAP in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the Km for PAPS was increased by PAP, whereas the Vmax was unaffected, indicating competitive inhibition (Ki, approximately 0.52 microM). The EST protein expressed by the CHO-K1 cell stable transfectants demonstrated a mol wt of 34 kilodaltons, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis. Additionally, when the expressed EST protein was subjected to isoelectric focusing, it was found to consist of multiple charge isoforms. These findings are comparable to what has been previously reported for native guinea pig adrenocortical EST. Furthermore, the charge isoform pattern that was demonstrated for the expressed EST was similar to the pattern observed for the native protein.

Molecular cloning of a chiral-specific 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase.

A novel stereoselective hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase (HST) that acts on neutral steroids having the 3-hydroxyl group in the alpha orientation but not on steroids where the 3-hydroxyl group is oriented in the beta position has been cloned and expressed. Primary screening of a guinea pig adrenal cDNA library was performed by colony hybridization using an oligonucleotide probe based on a highly homologous region among known steroid sulfotransferases. Selected clones consisted of overlapping sequences but were incomplete. The rapid amplification of cDNA ends procedure was used to construct a full-length guinea pig HST cDNA. The guinea pig HST cDNA transiently transfected into Chinese hamster ovary K1 cells expressed a protein identical in size to that of purified guinea pig HST specific for 3 alpha-hydroxylated neutral steroids that was recently reported (Driscoll, W. J., Martin, B. M., Chen, H.-C., and Strott, C. A. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 23496-23503). The expressed HST likewise exhibited sulfotransferase activity that was directed specifically toward steroid substrates containing a 3-hydroxyl group in the alpha orientation; on the other hand, steroids with a 3 beta-hydroxyl group were not sulfonated by the expressed HST. Thus, the cloned HST cDNA clearly coded for a steroid sulfotransferase with chiral specificity for 3 alpha-hydroxylated neutral steroids and was, therefore, given the designation of guinea pig 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase (gp3 alpha-HST). The full-length gp3 alpha-HST cDNA consisted of 1182 base pairs and coded for a protein containing 287 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of the protein shares 65/79, 65/80, and 62/76% identity/similarity with rat, mouse, and human HST, respectively. Northern blot analysis of guinea pig tissues revealed no apparent gender differences in either mRNA species or distribution; a single 1.4-kilobase HST mRNA species was present in adrenal and liver tissue. Interestingly, the adrenal mRNA content was considerably more abundant than that found in the liver. Evidence for 3 alpha-HST mRNA was not detected in kidney, heart, lung, muscle, spleen, or uterus.

Isolation of two distinct 3-hydroxysteroid sulfotransferases from the guinea pig adrenal. Evidence for 3 alpha-hydroxy versus 3 beta-hydroxy stereospecificity.

Two physically distinct hydroxysteroid sulfotransferases (HSTs) that demonstrate substrate specificity with respect to the orientation of the ring A 3-hydroxyl group have been isolated from the guinea pig adrenal gland. Nondenaturing liquid-phase isoelectric focusing permitted the separation of the activities, and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography was used to purify the two proteins to homogeneity. The 3 beta-HST had an apparent molecular mass of 33 kDa and utilized pregnenolone, 17-hydroxypregnenolone, and dehydroepiandrosterone as substrates. The 3 alpha-HST was slightly smaller at 32 kDa and utilized allopregnanolone and androsterone as substrates. The proteins were further distinguished by isoelectric point, immunoreactivity, and tryptic peptide mapping. Peptides isolated from both guinea pig HSTs demonstrated significant amino acid sequence homology (approximately 65% identity) to rat liver HST; however, available sequence data from the two proteins did not yield differences that might account for their stereospecific substrate selectivity. This paper represents the first definitive report demonstrating the existence of discrete HSTs that exhibit substrate specificity based on the stereochemistry of the 3-hydroxyl group.

Estrogen and hydroxysteroid sulfotransferases in guinea pig adrenal cortex: cellular and subcellular distributions.

This report describes for the first time the cellular and subcellular localization of estrogen sulfotransferase (EST) as well as the subcellular localization of hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase (HST) in the mammalian adrenal cortex. A 34-kilodalton EST and two HSTs with 3 alpha- and 3 beta-hydroxysteroid substrate specificities (32 and 33 kilodaltons, respectively) were previously purified from guinea pig adrenal cortex and characterized. Western blots were used to establish that two antisera generated against EST were highly specific for EST, whereas three antisera generated against the HSTs were highly specific for the HSTs, but did not distinguish between the 3 alpha- and 3 beta HSTs. Light and electron microscopic immunoperoxidase labeling with these antisera revealed that the sulfotransferases were expressed only within the ACTH-responsive layers of the guinea pig adrenal cortex, with EST localized to zona fasciculata and zona reticularis cells, and the HSTs confined to the zona reticularis. No labeling was detected in the zona glomerulosa or adrenal medulla. EST was concentrated in cell nuclei; sparse labeling was distributed throughout the cytoplasm. HST labeling was intense in smooth endoplasmic reticulum of zona reticularis cells, but was absent from nuclei. Ovoid inclusions about 1-4 microns in diameter, with no limiting membrane, were observed in zona reticularis cells; these inclusions were strongly labeled for both EST and HSTs. No gender-specific differences in distribution or labeling intensity were apparent. The high concentration of EST immunoreactivity in nuclei suggests that EST may play a role in modulating the ability of active estrogens to regulate gene expression in ACTH-responsive cells. The distribution of HST labeling suggests that sulfonation of adrenocortical 3-hydroxysteroids takes place largely within smooth endoplasmic reticulum in the zona reticularis in adult guinea pigs.

Cloning and sequence analysis of the 5'-flanking region of the estrogen sulfotransferase gene: steroid response elements and cell-specific nuclear DNA-binding proteins.

A 2954 bp region of the guinea pig estrogen sulfotransferase gene was cloned and sequenced including 2888 nt upstream of the cap site. This represents the first cloning of the promoter region of a steroid sulfotransferase gene. The 5'-flanking region was found to contain a conventional TATA box variant and sequences homologous to estrogen and glucocorticoid response elements. Gel mobility shift assays detected the presence of nuclear proteins in adrenocortical SW-13 and Y-1 cells that bind specifically to 30 mer DNA sequences containing either estrogen or glucocorticoid response elements. In contrast, gel shift experiments using 3T3 fibroblast cells failed to demonstrate similarly upshifted bands. Block deletion studies indicated that regulation of basal estrogen sulfotransferase promoter activity was located within the first 1000 bp upstream of the transcription initiation site.

Molecular cloning and expression of a full-length complementary DNA encoding the guinea pig adrenocortical estrogen sulfotransferase.

Complementary DNA for the guinea pig adrenocortical estrogen sulfotransferase (EST) has been cloned and expressed. Oligonucleotides, based on amino acid sequences of the purified 34-kilodalton protein, were synthesized and used to generate a specific probe by polymerase chain reaction for screening a guinea pig adrenal cDNA library. The polymerase chain reaction rapid amplification of cDNA ends procedure was employed to obtain the 3' and 5' cDNA ends, and a full-length cDNA was constructed. The cloned cDNA consists of 1192 base pairs and encodes a protein of 296 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 35,161 daltons. A computer search of the protein data banks revealed significant homology with several sulfotransferases: 71% with bovine placental estrogen sulfotransferase, 52% with rat liver phenol sulfotransferase, 35% with rat liver hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase, and 36% with rat liver senescence marker protein 2. The EST cDNA was inserted into the pcDNA I eukaryotic expression vector and transfected into COS-7 cells. The successful expression of EST cDNA in COS-7 cells was ascertained by Western blot analysis using antibody generated against the protein used to obtain the original amino acid sequence. Additionally, the expressed protein was clearly functional. Only after transfection with EST cDNA was there detectable estradiol sulfotransferase activity in COS-7 cell cytosol. The expressed EST had a single pI of 6.4, whereas native guinea pig adrenocortical EST exhibits four primary charge isoforms. The majority of adrenocortical EST activity focuses as a broad bimodal band in the pH range of 6.6-6.2; additionally, three other discrete immunocross-reactive isoforms are present with pIs of 5.5, 5.4, and 5.2. Antibodies generated against each individual isoform cross-react with all the other isoforms and with the expressed protein. These isoforms were previously reported to be isomers of a pregnenolone-binding protein; however it is now evident that the isoforms and antibodies raised against them are EST specific. Under high stringency hybridization conditions, EST mRNA was only detected in the adrenal gland, where two mRNA species of 1.4 and 1.8 kilobases were evident; when low stringency conditions were used, a faint 1.4-kilobase band was also detected in the liver. Primer extension analysis revealed that the multiple mRNAs do not arise from differential transcription initiation sites, and genomic Southern blot analysis indicated that the multiple mRNAs arise from a single gene.

Purification and identification of the heat-stable factor required for pregnenolone-binding protein activity. Evidence that the factor is adenosine 3',5'-diphosphate.

This paper presents data identifying adenosine 3',5'-diphosphate (3',5'-ADP) as the small heat-stable factor essential for the active steroid binding complex of the adrenocortical pregnenolone-binding protein (PBP). Factor activity obtained from the boiled supernatant of partially purified PBP was isolated by high performance liquid chromatography using weak anion-exchange and hydrophobic (C18) chromatography sequentially. The purified material retained characteristic factor activity and presented a UV spectrum identical to that for authentic 3',5'-ADP. Mass spectroscopic analysis of the isolated factor revealed an M-H ion of appropriate mass (m/z = 426) and a decomposition pattern for the M-H ion that was consistent with the structure of 3',5'-ADP. The studies presented here demonstrate that authentic 3',5'-ADP can categorically substitute for factor prepared from the soluble fraction of the guinea pig adrenal. Specifically, 3',5'-ADP potentiated ligand binding of partially purified native PBP and restored binding capacity to alkaline phosphatase-inactivated PBP in a dose-dependent manner. As is the case for adrenocortical factor activity, these effects were negated by pretreating the 3',5'-ADP with calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase. Other nucleotides similarly tested, including ADP isomers, were ineffective as factor substitutes. The sulfated form of 3',5'-ADP (i.e. 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate) demonstrated some potential for restoring binding capacity to phosphatase-inactivated PBP; however, this compound was clearly inhibitory rather than stimulatory for native PBP activity. Taken collectively, the data overwhelmingly demonstrate that 3',5'-ADP is in fact the molecule required by the PBP for high affinity steroid binding complex formation. It is not yet known whether 3',5'-ADP acts allosterically or contributes directly to the structure of the steroid binding site.