Isolation and characterization of the nuclear acceptor that binds the progesterone-receptor complex in hen oviduct

Thomas C. Spelsberg, Cary Thrall, Robert Webster, George Pikler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Progesterone binds to the nuclear chromatin of hen oviduct cells within minutes after its administration. This is followed by alterations in the RNA polymerase activities (15-30 min after treatment) and the appearance of specific messenger RNA (2 hr after treatment). It appears that the first nuclear event resulting in changes in gene expression represents the chromatin binding. Further characterization of this nuclear interaction, involving the administration of multiple doses of progesterone to estrogentreated immature chicks, revealed the presence of several classes of nuclear binding sites in the oviduct. Comparisons of serum progesterone levels and responses of RNA polymerase I and II activities with the nuclear binding indicated that the highestaffinity classes of sites (~ 10,000 sites per cell) are the biologically important ones. Binding studies in vitro, using isolated progesterone-receptor complex, also reveal the presence of these multiple classes of sites. The highest-affinity class of nuclear sites measured in vitro represented 6,000-10,000 sites per cell with Kd 10-9 M. Although these sites appeared to be tissue-specific, similar high-affinity sites appeared to be present but were completely masked in the chromatin of nontarget organs (spleen and erythrocyte). Even the target tissue (oviduct) chromatin appeared to have 70% masking. Further fractionation studies involving DNA affinity chromatography with chromatin bound to cellulose or hydroxylapatite revealed that these partially purified acceptor proteins were bound to DNA with very high affinity. The "acceptor proteins" must be reannealed to DNA to achieve binding activity. Preliminary evidence is presented which suggests that the acceptors reanneal to specific sequences on the DNA. These results support the idea that acidic proteins determine the high-affinity nuclear binding sites for steroids.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)309-337
Number of pages29
JournalJournal of Toxicology and Environmental Health
Volume3
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1977

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Toxicology
  • Pollution

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Isolation and characterization of the nuclear acceptor that binds the progesterone-receptor complex in hen oviduct'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this