Functionally relevant polymorphisms in the human nuclear vitamin D receptor gene.

The functional significance of two unlinked human vitamin D receptor (hVDR) gene polymorphisms was evaluated in twenty human fibroblast cell lines. Genotypes at both a Fok I restriction site (F/f) in exon II and a singlet (A) repeat in exon IX (L/S) were determined, and relative transcription activities of endogenous hVDR proteins were measured using a transfected, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3)-responsive reporter gene. Observed activities ranged from 2--100-fold induction by hormone, with higher activity being displayed by the F and the L biallelic forms. Only when genotypes at both sites were considered simultaneously did statistically significant differences emerge. Moreover, the correlation between hVDR activity and genotype segregated further into clearly defined high and low activity groups with similar genotypic distributions. These results not only demonstrate functional relevance for both the F/f and L/S common polymorphisms in hVDR, but also provide novel evidence for a third genetic variable impacting receptor potency.

Identification of proteins interacting with the rat somatostatin receptor subtype 2.

Using the yeast two hybrid system we have identified a novel protein termed somatostatin receptor interacting protein (SSTRIP) from human brain which interacts with the rat somatostatin receptor subtype 2. Interaction with the receptor C-terminus is mediated by a PSD-95/discs large/ZO-1 (PDZ) domain which exhibits high similarity to the PDZ domain of cortactin binding protein 1 (CortBP1). SSTRIP and CortBP1 define a novel family of multidomain proteins containing ankyrin repeats, SH3- and SH3 binding regions and a sterile alpha motif (SAM domain) in addition to the PDZ domain. Both SSTRIP and CortBP1 can be co-immunoprecipitated with the somatostatin receptor when co-expressed in HEK cells. Interestingly, co-localization of SSTR2 and CortBP1 at the plasma membrane is increased when SSTR2 is stimulated by agonists.

The calcium-independent receptor for alpha-latrotoxin from human and rodent brains interacts with members of the ProSAP/SSTRIP/Shank family of multidomain proteins.

Subtypes of the calcium-independent receptors for alpha-latrotoxin (CIRL1-3) define a distinct subgroup within the large family of the seven-transmembrane region cell surface receptors. The physiological function of CIRLs is unknown because neither extracellular ligands nor intracellular coupling proteins (G-proteins) have been identified. Using yeast two-hybrid screening, we identified a novel interaction between the C termini of CIRL1 and -2 and the PSD-95/discs large/ZO-1 (PDZ) domain of a recently discovered multidomain protein family (ProSAP/SSTRIP/Shank) present in human and rat brain. In vitro, CIRL1 and CIRL2 interacted strongly with the PDZ domain of ProSAP1. The specificity of this interaction has been verified by in vivo experiments using solubilized rat brain membrane fractions and ProSAP1 antibodies; only CIRL1, but not CIRL2, was co-immunoprecipitated with ProSAP1. In situ hybridization revealed that ProSAP1 and CIRL1 are co-expressed in the cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum. Colocalization was also observed at the subcellular level, as both CIRL1 and ProSAP1 are enriched in the postsynaptic density fraction from rat brain. Expression of all three CIRL isoforms is highly regulated during postnatal brain development, with CIRL3 exhibiting its highest expression levels immediately after birth, followed by CIRL2 and finally CIRL1 in aged rats.

The polymorphic N terminus in human vitamin D receptor isoforms influences transcriptional activity by modulating interaction with transcription factor IIB.

The human vitamin D receptor (hVDR) is a ligand-regulated transcription factor that mediates the actions of the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 hormone to effect bone mineral homeostasis. Employing mutational analysis, we characterized Arg-18/Arg-22, hVDR residues immediately N-terminal of the first DNA binding zinc finger, as vital for contact with human basal transcription factor IIB (TFIIB). Alteration of either of these basic amino acids to alanine also compromised hVDR transcriptional activity. In contrast, an artificial hVDR truncation devoid of the first 12 residues displayed both enhanced interaction with TFIIB and transactivation. Similarly, a natural polymorphic variant of hVDR, termed F/M4 (missing a FokI restriction site), which lacks only the first three amino acids (including Glu-2), interacted more efficiently with TFIIB and also possessed elevated transcriptional activity compared with the full-length (f/M1) receptor. It is concluded that the functioning of positively charged Arg-18/Arg-22 as part of an hVDR docking site for TFIIB is influenced by the composition of the adjacent polymorphic N terminus. Increased transactivation by the F/M4 neomorphic hVDR is hypothesized to result from its demonstrated enhanced association with TFIIB. This proposal is supported by the observed conversion of f/M1 hVDR activity to that of F/M4 hVDR, either by overexpression of TFIIB or neutralization of the acidic Glu-2 by replacement with alanine in f/M1 hVDR. Because the f VDR genotype has been associated with lower bone mineral density in diverse populations, one factor contributing to a genetic predisposition to osteoporosis may be the F/f polymorphism that dictates VDR isoforms with differential TFIIB interaction.

Somatostatin receptor interacting protein defines a novel family of multidomain proteins present in human and rodent brain.

By using the yeast two-hybrid system we identified a novel protein from the human brain interacting with the C terminus of somatostatin receptor subtype 2. This protein termed somatostatin receptor interacting protein is characterized by a novel domain structure, consisting of six N-terminal ankyrin repeats followed by SH3 and PDZ domains, several proline-rich regions, and a C-terminal sterile alpha motif. It consists of 2185 amino acid residues encoded by a 9-kilobase pair mRNA; several splice variants have been detected in human and rat cDNA libraries. Sequence comparison suggests that the novel multidomain protein, together with cortactin-binding protein, forms a family of cytoskeletal anchoring proteins. Fractionation of rat brain membranes indicated that somatostatin receptor interacting protein is enriched in the postsynaptic density fraction. The interaction of somatostatin receptor subtype 2 with its interacting protein was verified by overlay assays and coimmunoprecipitation experiments from transfected human embryonic kidney cells. Somatostatin receptor subtype 2 and the interacting protein display a striking overlap of their expression patterns in the rat brain. Interestingly, in the hippocampus the mRNA for somatostatin receptor interacting protein was not confined to the cell bodies but was also observed in the molecular layer, suggesting a dendritic localization of this mRNA.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-mediated membrane translocation of c-Src protein kinase in liver WB-F344 cells.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a widespread environmental contaminant and the most potent agonist of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Persistent activation of the AhR has been shown to be responsible for most TCDD-mediated toxic responses, including liver tumour promotion. However, the mechanisms responsible for these complex toxic reactions are still unknown. TCDD (1 nM) has previously been shown to reduce DNA synthesis of primary hepatocyte cultures and cell contact inhibition of confluent WB-F344 cells. The latter model was used to study early effects of TCDD on protein tyrosine kinase c-Src in confluent WB-F344 cells. It was found that TCDD decreased cytosolic c-Src (protein and tyrosine kinase activity) after 20-60 min, and increased c-Src in the membrane fraction. Membrane translocation of c-Src occurred in the presence of 100 microM cycloheximide and was observed after treatment with 1 nM TCDD or 50 nM 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Under these conditions epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor tyrosine phosphorylation was also studied. As expected, its phosphorylation was low in confluent cells but was significantly enhanced by TCDD treatment. Pretreatment of WB-F344 cells for 1 h with 1 microM geldanamycin, which disrupts cytosolic heat shock protein Hsp90 complexes with AhR and Src, abolished TCDD-mediated Src translocation and TCDD-mediated reduction of cell contact inhibition. The WB-F344 cell model appears to be very useful to study TCDD effects on protein tyrosine kinases and of signaling pathways responsible for modulation of the cell cycle by TCDD.

Agonist-dependent interaction of the rat somatostatin receptor subtype 2 with cortactin-binding protein 1.

We report here an interaction between the C terminus of the rat somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SSTR2) and a protein that has recently been identified as cortactin-binding protein 1 (CortBP1). Interaction is mediated by the PDZ (PSD-95/discs large/ZO-1) domain of CortBP1. As shown by in situ hybridization, SSTR2 and cortactin-binding protein are coexpressed in the rat brain. The association between SSTR2 and the PDZ-domain of CortBP1 was verified by overlay assays and by coprecipitation after transfection in human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells. Analysis by confocal microscopy indicates that CortBP1 is distributed diffusely throughout the cytosol in transfected cells and that it becomes concentrated at the plasma membrane when SSTR2 is present. This process is largely increased when the receptor is stimulated by somatostatin; as CortBP1 interacts with the C terminus of SSTR2, our data suggest that the binding of agonist to the receptor increase the accessibility of the receptor C terminus to the PDZ domain of CortBP1. Our data for the first time establish a link between a G-protein coupled receptor and constituents of the cytoskeleton.