Evidence for ligand-dependent intramolecular folding of the AF-2 domain in vitamin D receptor-activated transcription and coactivator interaction.

A ligand-dependent transcriptional activation domain (AF-2) exists in region E of the nuclear receptors. This highly conserved domain may contact several coactivators that are putatively involved in nuclear receptor-mediated transcription. In this study, a panel of vitamin D receptor (VDR) AF-2 mutants was created to examine the importance of several conserved residues in VDR-activated transcription. Two AF-2 mutants (L417S and E420Q) exhibited normal ligand binding, heterodimerization with retinoid X receptor, and vitamin D-responsive element interaction, but they were transcriptionally inactive in a VDR-responsive reporter gene assay. All AF-2 mutations that abolished VDR-mediated transactivation also eliminated interactions between VDR and several putative coactivator proteins including suppressor of gal1 (SUG1), steroid hormone receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1), or receptor interacting protein (RIP140), suggesting that coactivator interaction is important for AF-2-mediated transcription. In support of this concept, the minimal AF-2 domain [VDR(408-427)] fused to the gal4 DNA binding domain was sufficient to mediate transactivation as well as interaction with putative coactivators. Introducing the L417S and E420Q mutations into the minimal AF-2 domain abolished this autonomous transactivation and coactivator interactions. Finally, we demonstrate that the minimal AF-2 domain interacted with an AF-2 deletion mutant of the VDR in a 1,25-(OH)2D3-dependent manner, suggesting a ligand-induced intramolecular folding of the VDR AF-2 domain. The L417S mutant of this domain disrupted the interaction with VDR ligand-binding domain, while the E420Q mutant did not affect this interaction. These studies suggest that the conserved AF-2 motif may mediate transactivation through ligand-dependent intermolecular interaction with coactivators and through ligand-induced intramolecular contacts with the VDR ligand-binding domain itself.

Ligand binding to monocyte alpha 5 beta 1 integrin activates the alpha 2 beta 1 receptor via the alpha 5 subunit cytoplasmic domain and protein kinase C.

Regulation of the functional status of integrin receptors plays a critical role in inflammation and tissue remodeling, as it affects cell adherence and cytokine secretion. We have previously shown that in monocytes the binding of collagen to the alpha 2 beta 1 integrin induces the release of IL-1, an event that is potentiated by binding of fibronectin (Fn) to the alpha 5 beta 1 integrin. In this study, we have investigated the mechanisms leading to this phenomenon. Fn binding to alpha 5 beta 1 induced intracellular signals which increased the alpha 2 beta 1-dependent adhesiveness of monocytes to collagen without modifications of alpha 2 beta 1 expression. By using Abs against the intracellular region of the alpha 5 subunit of the alpha 5 beta 1 receptor, and specific inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC), we found that the potentiation effect of Fn on monocyte IL-1 production and their adherence to collagen was dependent on an intact alpha 5 subunit cytoplasmic domain, and required PKC activation. Although the alpha 2 beta 1 could be activated by several intracellular second messengers, including protein kinase A and intracellular calcium, the potentiating effect of Fn was mediated only by PKC. These data provide an example of a novel regulatory mechanism: potentiation of beta 1 integrin-mediated events as a result of ligand binding to another integrin of the same class. They also show that the intracellular region of alpha 5 beta 1 plays a critical role in transducing signals generated by ligand binding to alpha 5 beta 1.