skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Unique molecular properties of a urea- and salt-stable DNA-binding estrogen receptor dimer covalently labeled with the antiestrogen ( sup 3 H)desmethylnafoxidine aziridine. A comparison with the estrogen-receptor complex

Journal Article · · Molecular Endocrinology; (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1210/mend-4-2-255· OSTI ID:6774854

A new antiestrogen affinity ligand for the covalent labeling of estrogen receptors, (3H)desmethylnafoxidine aziridine, has been used to investigate the salt- and temperature-independent formation of DNA-binding estrogen receptor forms from untransformed (300 kilodaltons) receptor. Calf uterine estrogen receptor proteins labeled with (3H)estradiol or (3H)desmethylnafoxidine aziridine were quantitatively transformed (greater than 90%) to their DNA-binding configuration in low ionic strength buffers by brief exposure to 3 M urea at 0 C. The urea effect was hormone-dependent and partially reversible. The transformed receptors were purified (ca 250-fold) by affinity chromatography on single-stranded DNA-agarose in the continued presence of 3 M urea to prevent transformation reversal. Scatchard analyses revealed a single class of high affinity radioligand binding sites (Kd = 0.34 nM) unchanged by urea-induced transformation and purification. The DNA-binding receptor form labeled with (3H)desmethylnafoxidine aziridine was stable as a probable dimer in 3 M urea with 0.4 M KCl and displayed no evidence of size (Stokes radius 7.3 to 7.5 nm; 4.2 to 4.3 S; Mr = 136,800) heterogeneity. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis indicated the presence of an intact 67 kDa steroid-binding receptor subunit. Reverse-phase chromatography of the covalently labeled receptor on C4 and phenyl stationary phases revealed no evidence of structural heterogeneity. The surface charge of the estrogen- and antiestrogen-receptor complexes, however, was distinctly different in both the presence and absence of 3 M urea. Thus, exposure to urea was an effective salt- and temperature-independent means for achieving the complete transformation of receptor to its stable DNA-binding dimer configuration.

OSTI ID:
6774854
Journal Information:
Molecular Endocrinology; (USA), Vol. 4:2; ISSN 0888-8809
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English