The glycoprotein alpha-subunit is critical for secretion and stability of the human thyrotropin beta-subunit.

TSH is a member of a family of heterodimeric glycoprotein hormones which have a common alpha-subunit but differ in their hormone-specific beta-subunit. To study the posttranslational processing and assembly of human TSH, eukaryotic expression vectors were constructed that contained either the human TSH beta gene only or both the TSH beta and alpha-genes. These vectors were transfected into Chinese hamster ovary cells and stable cell lines synthesizing TSH beta or TSH dimer were isolated. The kinetics of secretion of TSH beta and the rate of assembly of TSH dimer were compared to the known secretion and assembly of human LH and human CG. In the absence of the alpha-subunit, CG beta is secreted efficiently, but TSH and LH beta-subunits are slowly degraded intracellularly (t1/2 approximately equal to 6 h) and less than 10% is secreted into the medium. In the presence of the alpha-subunit CG beta was also secreted efficiently as dimer but only 50% of the LH beta appeared in the medium as LH dimer. However, unlike LH beta, the alpha-subunit efficiently combines with TSH beta since greater than 95% was secreted as TSH dimer. Thus, the determinants for human TSH beta secretion and assembly are unique from the other human glycoprotein hormone beta-subunits.

Vitamin D receptor phosphorylation in transfected ROS 17/2.8 cells is localized to the N-terminal region of the hormone-binding domain.

The human 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor (hVDR) has been recently shown to be phosphorylated in vitro by casein kinase-II. Most of the residues phosphorylated by this enzyme were shown to reside between Asn160 and Asp232, a region near the N-terminal boundary of the hormone-binding domain. We report here that the hVDR is also phosphorylated in vivo after transfection into ROS 17/2.8 cells. In addition to testing full-length hVDR, we analyzed several internally deleted hVDR mutants. The expression and phosphorylation of full-length and mutated hVDRs were monitored in transfected cells by metabolic labeling with either [35S]methionine or [32P]orthophosphate, followed by immunopurification using monoclonal anti-VDR antibody linked to agarose beads. Transfected hVDR is distinguishable from the endogenous rat VDR when the immunoprecipitated proteins are resolved on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. Significant phosphorylation of transfected full-length hVDR was observed in ROS 17/2.8 cells, and it was less dependent on the presence of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 than that of the endogenous rat receptor. Most importantly, the region of in vivo phosphorylation, as defined by internal deletion mutants, resides between Met197 and Val234. Therefore, we have localized the major site of phosphorylation of hVDR to residues in the N-terminal region of the hormone-binding domain. The boundaries of this region fall within the amino acid segment defined for phosphorylation of hVDR by casein kinase-II in vitro, suggesting that VDR is an in vivo substrate for casein kinase-II or a related protein kinase.

A highly conserved region in the hormone-binding domain of the human vitamin D receptor contains residues vital for heterodimerization with retinoid X receptor and for transcriptional activation.

Residues located between amino acids 244 and 263 in the human vitamin D receptor (hVDR) show extensive homology with other members of the steroid/thyroid/retinoid hormone receptor superfamily. The corresponding region of the glucocorticoid receptor has been shown to interact with the 90-kilodalton heat shock protein (hsp90), yet hVDR does not appear to bind to hsp90. Herein we report a study of hVDR in which the functional role of five conserved residues was tested by replacing Phe-244, Lys-246, Leu-254, Gln-259, and Leu-262 with glycines by site-directed mutagenesis. Initial screening of these mutants indicated that all were significantly impaired in their ability to activate transcription from a vitamin D-responsive reporter construct when expressed in transfected VDR-deficient COS-7 cells. Further characterization revealed two classes of mutants: the predominant class binds the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 ligand normally but is defective in its ability to form a heterodimeric complex with the retinoid X receptor (RXR) on a vitamin D responsive element (VDRE). A second unique class, represented by a single mutant at Lys-246, is normal both with respect to ligand binding and complex formation but still very impaired in transactivation ability. The distinction between these two classes was confirmed by the demonstration that a member of the first class, with a mutation at Gln-259, could be restored to near wild type transactivation ability by supplying excess RXR, while the Lys-246 mutant could not be so rescued. We therefore conclude that the primary function of this conserved domain in hVDR is the mediation of heterodimerization with RXR, leading to VDRE binding and transactivation. The possibility also exists that the Lys-246 mutant may be impaired in a step of transactivation that is distal to complex formation with RXR on the VDRE, perhaps in interactions with the transcriptional machinery itself.

The C-terminal region of the vitamin D receptor is essential to form a complex with a receptor auxiliary factor required for high affinity binding to the vitamin D-responsive element.

The human vitamin D receptor (hVDR) requires another nuclear protein(s), designated receptor auxiliary factor (RAF), for optimal binding to the vitamin D-responsive element (VDRE). To determine the region in hVDR required to form a heterodimer with RAF on the VDRE, mutant hVDR cDNAs were constructed by site-directed mutagenesis and transfected into COS-7 cells. A truncated hVDR, lacking 25 C-terminal amino acids (delta 403-427), showed complex production in combination with endogenous RAF in COS-7 cells. Complex development was markedly enhanced by adding a rat liver nuclear fraction, which contains RAF activity, or either the alpha or beta form of the retinoid-X receptor, which has been reported to be closely related or identical to RAF. In contrast, either a C-terminal truncation of 46 amino acids (delta 382-427) or single point mutations at lysine-382, methionine-383, glutamine-385, or leucine-390 dramatically reduced the ability of hVDR to heterodimerize with RAF. Binding of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] hormone was undetectable in delta 382-427 truncated hVDR, whereas the delta 403-427 mutant hVDR exhibited significant 1,25-(OH)2D3 ligand binding, although the dissociation constant was approximately 10-fold higher than that of the wild-type receptor. Surprisingly, the delta 403-427 mutant hVDR did not mediate measurable transcriptional activation in cotransfection experiments with a VDRE-GH reporter gene construct. These results indicate that hVDR residues between cysteine-403 and serine-427 are required for very high affinity 1,25-(OH)2D3 ligand binding and transcriptional activation, but are not involved in heterodimerization. The region of hVDR between lysine-382 and arginine-402, probably the domain containing heptad 9, plays an essential role in the heterodimerization of hVDR with RAF. However, based upon additional point mutagenesis experiments, it is likely that other regions of the hormone-binding domain, such as that including heptad 4 (leucine-325 to leucine-332), also contribute to the protein-protein interactions required for the high affinity, specific binding of hVDR to the VDRE.

Vitamin D receptors from patients with resistance to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3: point mutations confer reduced transactivation in response to ligand and impaired interaction with the retinoid X receptor heterodimeric partner.

Hereditary hypocalcemic vitamin D-resistant rickets is attributable to defects in the nuclear receptor for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3]. Two novel point mutations (I314S and R391C) identified in the hormone-binding domain of the human vitamin D receptor (VDR) from patients with hereditary hypocalcemic vitamin D-resistant rickets confer the receptor with sharply reduced 1,25-(OH)2D3-dependent transactivation. These natural mutations, especially R391C, also lead to a second specific consequence, namely impaired heterodimeric interaction with retinoid X receptor (RXR). While the transactivation ability of the I314S mutant can be largely restored by providing excess 1,25-(OH)2D3, R391C activity is more effectively restored with exogenous RXR. These observations are reflected also in the clinical course of each patient: the patient bearing the I314S mutation showed a nearly complete cure with pharmacological doses of a vitamin D derivative, whereas the patient bearing R391C responded only partially to such therapy. Further tests with patient fibroblasts and transfected cells show that the activity of the I314S VDR mutant is augmented somewhat by added RXR, while transactivation by the R391C mutant is best corrected by RXR in the presence of excess hormone. Thus, the effects of hormone vs. RXR in bolstering these mutant VDRs, such that they mediate efficient transactivation, are not entirely separable. The unique properties of these genetically altered receptors establish a new subclass of natural human VDR mutants that illustrate, in vivo, the importance of both 1,25-(OH)2D3 binding and heterodimerization with RXR in VDR action.

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.

Biosynthesis and secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone beta-subunit from ovine pituitary cultures: effect of 17 beta-estradiol treatment.

An assay was developed to detect tritium-labeled ovine FSH beta-subunit [( 3H]oFSH beta) secreted from primary ovine pituitary cultures. This procedure used affinity-enriched antibodies raised against reduced and carbamylmethylated oFSH beta (RCM-oFSH beta) in a two-cycle immunoextraction procedure. A discrete species with an apparent mol wt of 21,000 was detected in sodium dodecyl sulfate electrophoretic patterns of immunoextracts from culture medium. This species was identified as RCM-[3H]oFSH beta by its comigration with highly purified RCM-oFSH beta, its reduction in culture media after cultures were treated with 17 beta-estradiol, which normally decreases radioimmunoassayable oFSH; and its displacement from the extracting antibodies by excess unlabeled RCM-oFSH beta. The assay was used in a pulse-chase study to determine that [3H]oFSH beta is secreted within 1-2 h of its synthesis. Prior treatment of cultures with 17 beta-estradiol did not change this timing of secretion.

Expression of chorionic gonadotropin alpha- and beta-genes in normal and neoplastic human tissues: relationship to deoxyribonucleic acid structure.

We have investigated whether the expression of hCG genes can be attributed to changes in the structure of the alpha- and beta hCG genes, such as rearrangements, duplications, or methylation patterns. Various tissues and cell lines were studied: two term placentae, three trophoblastic tumor cell lines, two tumor cell lines ectopically producing alpha-subunit, normal cells not producing hCG or subunits, and a nonproducing malignancy. Gene structure was explored by restriction enzyme analysis and Southern blotting of DNA, using as probes 32P-labeled plasmids containing alpha- and beta hCG cDNAs. Similarly, methylation was evaluated using the restriction enzymes Msp I, Hpa II, and Hha I, each sensitive to a different pattern of cytosine methylation. No structural changes were observed in alpha- and beta hCG genes, although certain polymorphisms were observed. Analysis of methylation patterns revealed variation of the methylated cytosines; however, no clear correlation was seen between overall methylation or a specific pattern of methylation of these genes and their expression. Although specific methylated nucleotides of regulatory importance may not have been detected by our methods, we can still conclude that neither DNA structural alterations nor patterns of cytosine methylation appear to be major determinants of hCG expression.

Suppression of ANP gene transcription by liganded vitamin D receptor: involvement of specific receptor domains.

We showed previously that liganded vitamin D receptor (VDR) effects a suppression of human atrial natriuretic peptide (hANP) gene-promoter activity in cultured neonatal rat atrial myocytes. In the present study, we have attempted to identify the structural domains of the VDR that are involved in mediating this suppression. We examined the effects of a series of VDR mutants on a cotransfected hANP promoter-driven chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter. Neither the native VDR nor any of the mutants tested displayed inhibitory activity in the absence of the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VD3) ligand. Delta134, a deletant harboring solely the DNA binding region of the VDR, and L254G, a mutant shown to be defective in retinoid X receptor (RXR) heterodimer formation in other systems, were as effective as the native VDR in reducing promoter activity. HBD, a deletant containing only the hormone-binding domain of the VDR, and K246G, a point mutant that is defective in the activation function of the receptor, did not attenuate reporter activity. A similar activity profile was displayed when a positively regulated promoter containing a direct-repeat vitamin D responsive element (DR3-CAT) was examined in these cells. Liganded VDR, the delta134 mutant, and liganded L254G effected increases in DR3-CAT activity of 2.5-, 2-, and 4-fold, respectively. Two nonhypercalcemic analogues of VD3 (RO 23-7553 and RO 25-6760) displayed the same inhibitory activity as VD3. These studies suggest that the inhibition of hANP promoter activity requires both the DNA binding and activation functions of the receptor but does not appear to require formation of a classic RXR alpha-VDR heterodimer.

New understanding of the molecular mechanism of receptor-mediated genomic actions of the vitamin D hormone.

The nuclear vitamin D receptor (VDR) binds the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3]hormone with high affinity and elicits its actions to regulate gene expression in target cells by binding to vitamin D-responsive elements (VDREs). VDREs in positively controlled genes such as osteocalcin, osteopontin, beta 3-integrin, and vitamin D-24-OHase are direct hexanucleotide repeats with a spacer of three nucleotides. The VDR associates with these VDREs with the greatest affinity as a heterodimer with one of the family of retinoid X receptors (RXRs). VDR consists of an N-terminal zinc finger domain that determines DNA binding, a "hinge" segment and a C-terminal hormone binding domain which also contains two conserved regions that engage in heterodimerization with an RXR on the VDRE. The role of the 1,25(OH)2D3 ligand in transcriptional activation by the VDR-RXR heterodimer is to alter the conformation of the hormone-binding domain of VDR to facilitate strong dimerization with RXR, which results in ligand-enhanced association with the VDRE. Thus RXR is recruited into a heterocomplex by liganded VDR. The natural ligand for the RXR coreceptor, 9-cis retinoic acid, suppresses both VDR-RXR binding to the VDRE and 1,25(OH)2D3-stimulated transcription, indicating that 9-cis retinoic acid diverts RXR away from being the silent partner of VDR to instead form RXR homodimers. Recent data reveal that after binding RXR, a subsequent target for VDR in the vitamin D signal transduction cascade is basal transcription factor IIB (TFIIB).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Distinct retinoid X receptor activation function-2 residues mediate transactivation in homodimeric and vitamin D receptor heterodimeric contexts.

The vitamin D receptor (VDR) stimulates transcription as a 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25(OH)(2)D(3))-activated heterodimer with retinoid X receptor (RXR). RXR also forms homodimers to mediate 9-cis retinoic acid (9-cis RA)-induced gene expression. Both receptors possess a C-terminal hormone-dependent activation function-2 (AF-2), a highly conserved region that binds coactivators to transduce the transcriptional signal. By replacing single amino acids within the AF-2 of human RXR alpha (hRXR alpha) or mouse RXR beta (mRXR beta), the contribution of these residues to transactivation by the RXR-VDR heterodimer and the RXR-RXR homodimer was evaluated. In 9-cis RA-responsive homodimers, the second and fourth positions of the AF-2 (leucine and glutamate respectively) are essential. However, in the context of an RXR-VDR heterodimer activated by 1,25(OH)(2)D(3), alteration of these two RXR residues has little effect. Instead, AF-2 residues located towards the C-terminus, such as the penultimate position (L455 in hRXR alpha or L441 in mRXR beta), are crucial for RXR-VDR heterodimers. Indeed, L455A mutant RXR exerts a dominant negative effect on RXR-VDR transcriptional responsiveness to 1,25(OH)(2)D(3). Further experiments with a mutant hRXR alpha (F313A) which elicits 9-cis RA-independent transactivation as a homodimer demonstrate that, when heterodimerized with VDR, this RXR mutant is incapable of activating the RXR-VDR heterocomplex in the absence of the VDR ligand. Taken together, these results indicate that RXR is a subordinate, yet essential transcriptional partner in RXR-VDR-mediated activation of gene expression. Furthermore, a functional switch in RXR AF-2 signaling occurs between RXR residues in the homodimeric versus the heterodimeric states, likely reflecting different interactions between subregions of the AF-2 and coactivator(s).

The vitamin D hormone and its nuclear receptor: molecular actions and disease states.

Vitamin D plays a major role in bone mineral homeostasis by promoting the transport of calcium and phosphate to ensure that the blood levels of these ions are sufficient for the normal mineralization of type I collagen matrix in the skeleton. In contrast to classic vitamin D-deficiency rickets, a number of vitamin D-resistant rachitic syndromes are caused by acquired and hereditary defects in the metabolic activation of the vitamin to its hormonal form, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), or in the subsequent functions of the hormone in target cells. The actions of 1,25(OH)2D3 are mediated by the nuclear vitamin D receptor (VDR), a phosphoprotein which binds the hormone with-high affinity and regulates the expression of genes via zinc finger-mediated DNA binding and protein-protein interactions. In hereditary hypocalcemic vitamin D-resistant rickets (HVDRR), natural mutations in human VDR that confer patients with tissue insensitivity to 1,25(OH)2D3 are particularly instructive in revealing VDR structure function relationships. These mutations fall into three categories: (i) DNA binding/nuclear localization, (ii) hormone binding and (iii) heterodimerization with retinoid X receptors (RXRs). That all three classes of VDR mutations generate the HVDRR phenotype is consistent with a basic model of the active receptor as a DNA-bound, 1,25(OH)2D3-liganded heterodimer of VDR and RXR. Vitamin D responsive elements (VDREs) consisting of direct hexanucleotide repeats with a spacer of three nucleotides have been identified in the promoter regions of positively controlled genes expressed in bone, such as osteocalcin, osteopontin, beta 3-integrin and vitamin D 24-OHase. The 1,25(OH)2D3 ligand promotes VDR-RXR heterodimerization and specific, high affinity VDRE binding, whereas the ligand for RXR, 9-cis retinoic acid (9-cis RA), is capable of suppressing 1,25(OH)2D3-stimulated transcription by diverting RXR to form homodimers. However, initial 1,25(OH)2D3 liganding of a VDR monomer renders it competent not only to recruit RXR into a heterodimer but also to conformationally silence the ability of its RXR partner to bind 9-cis RA and dissociate the heterodimer. Additional probing of protein-protein interactions has revealed that VDR also binds to basal transcription factor IIB (TFIIB) and, in the presence of 1,25(OH)2D3, an RXR-VDR-TFIIB ternary complex can be created in solution. Moreover, for transcriptional activation by 1,25(OH)2D3, both VDR and RXR require an intact short amphipathic alpha-helix, known as AF-2, positioned at their extreme C-termini. Because the AF-2 domains participate neither in VDR-RXR heterodimerization nor in TFIIB association, it is hypothesized that they contact, in a ligand-dependent fashion, transcriptional coactivators such as those of the steroid receptor coactivator family, constituting yet a third protein-protein interaction for VDR. Therefore, in VDR-mediated transcriptional activation, 1,25(OH)2D3 binding to VDR alters the conformation of the ligand binding domain such that it: (i) engages in strong heterodimerization with RXR to facilitate VDRE binding, (ii) influences the RXR ligand binding domain such that it is resistant to the binding of 9-cis RA but active in recruiting coactivator to its AF-2 and (iii) presents the AF-2 region in VDR for coactivator association. The above events, including bridging by coactivators to the TATA binding protein and associated factors, may position VDR such that it is able to attract TFIIB and the balance of the RNA polymerase II transcription machinery, culminating in repeated transcriptional initiation of VDRE-containing, vitamin D target genes. Such a model would explain the action of 1,25(OH)2D3 to elicit bone remodeling by stimulating osteoblast and osteoclast precursor gene expression, while concomitantly triggering the termination of its hormonal signal by inducing the 24-OHase catabolizing enzyme.

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.

Receptor mediated genomic action of the 1,25(OH)2D3 hormone: expression of the human vitamin D receptor in E. coli.

The nuclear vitamin D receptor (VDR) binds the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) hormone with high affinity and elicits its actions to stimulate gene expression in target cells by binding to the vitamin D-responsive element (VDRE). VDREs in such positively controlled genes as osteocalcin, osteopontin, beta 3 integrin and vitamin D-24-OHase are direct hexanucleotide repeats with a spacer of three nucleotides. The present studies of VDR/VDRE interaction utilized full-length human vitamin D receptor (hVDR) that was overexpressed in E. coli, purified to near homogeneity (> 95%), and its authenticity confirmed by demonstrating high affinity hormone binding and reactivity to monoclonal antibody 9A7 gamma. The expressed hVDR displays strict dependence on the family of retinoid X receptors (RXRs) for binding to the vitamin D-responsive element (VDRE) in the rat osteocalcin gene. Similar overexpression in E. coli of the DNA binding domain (delta 134), containing only residues 4-133 of hVDR, generated a receptor species that possesses intrinsic DNA binding activity. Both full-length and delta 134 hVDRs retain similar DNA binding specificities when tested with several natural hormone responsive elements, indicating that the N-terminal zinc finger region determines hVDR-DNA sequence selectivity. The C-terminal region of the molecule is required for hormone binding and confers the receptor with the property of very high affinity DNA binding, via heterodimerization between hVDR and RXR. A natural ligand for the RXR co-receptor, 9-cis retinoic acid, suppresses both VDR-RXR binding to the VDRE and 1,25(OH)2D3 stimulated transcription, indicating that 9-cis retinoic acid recruits RXR away from VDR to instead form RXR homodimers.

Evaluation of a putative vitamin D response element in the avian calcium binding protein gene.

A primary response of the avian intestine to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] is increased synthesis of a 28-kD calcium-binding protein, calbindin-D28k (CaBP). This study examined whether 1,25-(OH)2D3 regulates CaBP gene transcription by an interaction of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) with a vitamin D-responsive element (VDRE) in the CaBP promoter. A genomic clone of CaBP containing about 1 kb of 5'-flanking DNA and 13 kb of the structural gene was isolated. 5'-Flanking DNA from -320 to -306 had considerable sequence similarity to VDREs identified in other genes. Indeed, a portion of the CaBP gene containing this region (-743 to +47) linked to a growth hormone reporter construct elicited a 1,25-(OH)2D3-dependent, VDR-dependent increase in reporter expression in transiently transfected chicken embryo fibroblasts. However, deletion analysis demonstrated that the sequences responsible for this induction reside 3' to -133 and the putative VDRE at -320 to -306 was not involved in the response. Furthermore, transfection of heterologous promoter constructs consisting of a Ban I fragment (-354 to -252) linked to the Herpes simplex thymidine kinase promoter revealed no effect of this region on reporter expression. Gel mobility shift analysis confirmed that this putative VDRE in the CaBP promoter was not a high-affinity binding site for VDR. Consequently, functional significance with respect to the primary induction of CaBP by 1,25-(OH)2D3 cannot be ascribed to this region of the CaBP promoter.

The human thyrotropin beta-subunit gene differs in 5' structure from murine TSH-beta genes.

The gene encoding the beta-subunit of human thyrotropin (hTSH-beta) was isolated, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The gene is 4.3 kb in length, consists of three exons and two introns, and is present as a single copy as determined by Southern blot analysis of total genomic DNA. The protein coding portion of the gene, which includes exons 2 and 3, was isolated from a human genomic phage library, while exon 1, which encodes only 5' untranslated mRNA sequence, was isolated from a plasmid library of size-selected genomic DNA fragments. Here we describe the isolation of the 5' untranslated exon of the hTSH-beta subunit and 5'-flanking region. The structure of the hTSH-beta gene is very similar to the previously characterized TSH-beta genes from mouse and rat. The genes from all three species have two distinct promoter regions, but while both promoters are utilized by the murine TSH-beta genes, the human TSH-beta gene apparently utilizes only the proximal promoter for transcription initiation. A striking difference in hTSH-beta gene structure compared to the murine genes is that exon 1 of the human gene is 36 nucleotides. An analysis of the mouse, rat, and human exon 1 and 5'-flanking region shows a high percentage of sequence homology, with the exception of a 9-nucleotide insertion 13 bases 3' from the proximal TATA box found in the human gene but not found in the other two species. We propose that this insertion results in the additional length of human exon 1 compared to the mouse and rat genes. By isolating the promoter region of the hTSH-beta gene, we can begin to identify specific sequences involved in the regulation of hTSH gene expression.

Steroid hormone receptors: evolution, ligands, and molecular basis of biologic function.

The characterization of the superfamily of nuclear receptors, in particular the steroid/retinoid/thyroid hormone receptors, has resulted in a more complete understanding of how a repertoire of hormonally and nutritionally derived lipophilic ligands controls cell functions to effect development and homeostasis. As transducers of hormonal signaling in the nucleus, this superfamily of DNA-binding proteins appears to represent a crucial link in the emergence of multicellular organisms. Because nuclear receptors bind and are conformationally activated by a chemically diverse array of ligands, yet are closely related in general structure, they present an intriguing example of paralogous evolution. It is hypothesized that an ancient prototype receptor evolved into an intricate set of dimerizing isoforms, capable of recognizing an ensemble of hormone-responsive element motifs in DNA, and exerting ligand-directed combinatorial control of gene expression. The effector domains of nuclear receptors mediate transcriptional activation by recruiting coregulatory multisubunit complexes that remodel chromatin, target the initiation site, and stabilize the RNA polymerase II machinery for repeated rounds of transcription of the regulated gene. Because some nuclear receptors also function in gene repression, while others are constitutive activators, this superfamily of proteins provides a number of avenues for investigating hormonal regulation of gene expression. This review surveys briefly the latest findings in the nuclear receptor field and identifies particular areas where future studies should be fruitful. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppls. 32/33:110-122, 1999.

Human vitamin D receptor phosphorylation by casein kinase II at Ser-208 potentiates transcriptional activation.

The potential functional significance of human 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] receptor (hVDR) phosphorylation at Ser-208 was evaluated by cotransfecting COS-7 kidney cells with hVDR constructs and the catalytic subunit of human casein kinase 11 (CK-11). Under these conditions, hVDR is intensely phosphorylated in a reaction that depends on both CK-II and the presence of Ser-208. The resulting hyperphosphorylated receptor is unaltered in its kinetics for binding the 1,25(OH)2D3 ligand, its partitioning into the nucleus, and its ability to associate with a vitamin D responsive element. Replacement of Ser-208 with glycine or alanine indicates that phosphorylation of hVDR at Ser-208 is not obligatory for 1,25(OH)2D3 action, but coexpression of wild-type hVDR and CK-11 elicits a dose-dependent enhancement of 1,25(OH)2D3-stimulated transcription of a vitamin D responsive element reporter construct. This enhancement by CK-II is abolished by mutating Ser-208 to glycine or alanine and does not occur with glucocorticoid receptor-mediated transcription. Therefore, phosphorylation of hVDR by CK-11 at Ser-208 specifically modulates its transcriptional capacity, suggesting that this covalent modification alters the conformation of VDR to potentiate its interaction with the machinery for DNA transcription.

Regulation of beta-chain mRNA of ovine follicle-stimulating hormone by 17 beta-estradiol.

17 beta-Estradiol (E2) rapidly and reversibly decreases the synthesis of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in primary dispersed cell cultures of ovine pituitaries. Similarly, E2 also causes a decrease in the messenger RNA for the beta subunit of ovine FSH (FSH beta-mRNA) as measured in an in vitro translation assay. These results are consistent with the concept that E2 directly regulates either transcription of the FSH beta gene or processing of FSH beta-mRNA in sheep. Of additional interest is the observation that pituitary cultures from various species respond differently to E2 in terms of FSH synthesis. For example, E2 stimulates FSH synthesis in rat pituitary cultures, has no effect in similar rabbit cultures, and inhibits FSH synthesis in ovine cultures. Thus, a set of eukaryotic 'mutants' may exist to aid studies of the effect of E2 on FSH synthesis and secretion.