Covalent binding of the endogenous estrogen 16 alpha-hydroxyestrone to estradiol receptor in human breast cancer cells: characterization and intranuclear localization.
The interactions of 16 alpha-hydroxyestrone (16 alpha-OHE1), a metabolite of estradiol (E2), with estrogen receptors (ERs) were compared in this study to the classic E2-receptor mechanism in human breast cancer cells MCF-7 in culture. When MCF-7 cells were incubated with radioinert 16 alpha-OHE1 or its 3H-labeled form for 4 weeks, the estrogen bound extensively and irreversibly in a time-dependent fashion to nuclear protein species that correspond to the ER. Here we show that the interactions of 16 alpha-OHE1 with the ER are different from those of E2 with the receptor. Dissociation of tritiated E2-ER or 16 alpha-OHE1-ER complexes, salt extraction, DNase and proteinase K digestion, and ethanol treatment demonstrated that the binding of 16 alpha-OHE1 to the ER corresponds to two different forms: a classical noncovalent interaction similar to that of E2, and a covalent adduct formation between the metabolite and the ER. These complexes localized preferentially in nuclear matrix components as revealed by cell fractionation and probing with a monoclonal anti-ER antibody. [3H]16 alpha-OHE1-ER complexes analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated a radiolabeled band at approximately 66 kDa that was absent when the exposure of cells was done in the presence of E2 in competition and that was also absent in [3H]E2 incubations. The present results when considered together with our previous findings of elevated activities of estrogen 16 alpha-hydroxylase, the enzyme responsible for the formation of 16 alpha-OHE1, in breast cancer patients and in women at enhanced risk for the disease, suggest that covalent modification of the ER may be one mechanism of malignant transformation in estrogen target tissues.
Swaneck
G E
GE
Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10021.
Fishman
J
J
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D004970:Estrone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D006894:Hydroxyestrones / Q000378:metabolism*; D011959:Receptors, Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism*; D039181:Steroid 16-alpha-Hydroxylase
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006894:Hydroxyestrones; D011959:Receptors, Estradiol; C026702:16-hydroxyestrone; D004970:Estrone; D004958:Estradiol; D039181:Steroid 16-alpha-Hydroxylase