18 research outputs found
Insights on Glucocorticoid Receptor Activity Modulation through the Binding of Rigid Steroids
Background: The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is a transcription factor that regulates gene expression in a ligand-dependent fashion. This modular protein is one of the major pharmacological targets due to its involvement in both cause and treatment of many human diseases. Intense efforts have been made to get information about the molecular basis of GR activity. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here, the behavior of four GR-ligand complexes with different glucocorticoid and antiglucocorticoid properties were evaluated. The ability of GR-ligand complexes to oligomerize in vivo was analyzed by performing the novel Number and Brightness assay. Results showed that most of GR molecules form homodimers inside the nucleus upon ligand binding. Additionally, in vitro GR-DNA binding analyses suggest that ligand structure modulates GRDNA interaction dynamics rather than the receptor's ability to bind DNA. On the other hand, by coimmunoprecipitation studies we evaluated the in vivo interaction between the transcriptional intermediary factor 2 (TIF2) coactivator and different GR-ligand complexes. No correlation was found between GR intranuclear distribution, cofactor recruitment and the homodimerization process. Finally, Molecular determinants that support the observed experimental GR LBD-ligand/TIF2 interaction were found by Molecular Dynamics simulation. Conclusions/Significance: The data presented here sustain the idea that in vivo GR homodimerization inside the nucleus can be achieved in a DNA-independent fashion, without ruling out a dependent pathway as well. Moreover, since at least one GR-ligand complex is able to induce homodimer formation while preventing TIF2 coactivator interaction, results suggest that these two events might be independent from each other. Finally, 21-hydroxy-6,19-epoxyprogesterone arises as a selective glucocorticoid with potential pharmacological interest. Taking into account that GR homodimerization and cofactor recruitment are considered essential steps in the receptor activation pathway, results presented here contribute to understand how specific ligands influence GR behavior. © 2010 Presman et al.Fil:Presman, D.M. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:Alvarez, L.D. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:Levi, V. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:MartĂ, M.A. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:Veleiro, A.S. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:Burton, G. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:Pecci, A. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina
Exploring the Molecular Basis of Action of the Passive Antiglucocorticoid 21-Hydroxy-6,19-epoxyprogesterone
Synthetic DAF-12 modulators with potential use in controlling the nematode life cycle
Dafachronic acids (DAs) are 3-keto cholestenoic acids bearing a carboxylic acid moiety at the end of the steroid side chain. These compounds interact with the DAF-12 receptor, a ligand-dependent transcription factor that acts as a molecular switch mediating the choice between arrest at diapause or progression to reproductive development and adult lifespan in different nematodes. Recently, we reported that the 27-nor-4 - DA was able to directly activate DAF-12 in a transactivation cellbased luciferase assay and rescued the Mig phenotype of daf- 9(rh50) Caenorhabditis elegans mutants. In the present paper, to investigate further the relationship between the structure of the steroid side chain and DAF-12 activity, we evaluated the in vitro and in vivo activity of 4 -DA analogues with modified side chains using transactivation cell-based assays and daf-9(dh6) C. elegans mutants. Our results revealed that introduction of a 24,25-double bond on the cholestenoic acid side chain did not affect DAF-12 activity, whereas shortening the side chain lowered the activity. Most interestingly, the C24 alcohol 24-hydroxy-4-cholen-3-one (6) was an antagonist of the DAF-12 receptor both in vitro and in vivo.Fil: Dansey, Maria Virginia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de FisiologĂa, BiologĂa Molecular y Neurociencias. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de FisiologĂa, BiologĂa Molecular y Neurociencias; ArgentinaFil: Alvarez, Lautaro Damian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Unidad de MicroanĂĄlisis y MĂ©todos FĂsicos en QuĂmica OrgĂĄnica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Unidad de MicroanĂĄlisis y MĂ©todos FĂsicos en QuĂmica OrgĂĄnica; ArgentinaFil: Samaja, Gisela Anabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Unidad de MicroanĂĄlisis y MĂ©todos FĂsicos en QuĂmica OrgĂĄnica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Unidad de MicroanĂĄlisis y MĂ©todos FĂsicos en QuĂmica OrgĂĄnica; ArgentinaFil: Escudero, Daiana S.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de QuĂmica BiolĂłgica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de QuĂmica BiolĂłgica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Veleiro, Adriana Silvia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Unidad de MicroanĂĄlisis y MĂ©todos FĂsicos en QuĂmica OrgĂĄnica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Unidad de MicroanĂĄlisis y MĂ©todos FĂsicos en QuĂmica OrgĂĄnica; ArgentinaFil: Pecci, Adali. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de FisiologĂa, BiologĂa Molecular y Neurociencias. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de FisiologĂa, BiologĂa Molecular y Neurociencias; ArgentinaFil: Castro, Olga Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de QuĂmica BiolĂłgica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de QuĂmica BiolĂłgica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Burton, Gerardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Unidad de MicroanĂĄlisis y MĂ©todos FĂsicos en QuĂmica OrgĂĄnica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Unidad de MicroanĂĄlisis y MĂ©todos FĂsicos en QuĂmica OrgĂĄnica; Argentin