title: Retinoid X receptor alters the determination of DNA binding specificity by the P-box amino acids of the thyroid hormone receptor.
abstract: Nuclear hormone receptors bind to hormone response elements in DNA consisting of two half-sites of 6 base pairs. The P-box amino acids of each receptor determine the identities of the central nucleotides of the half-site. 57 P-box variants of the human thyroid hormone receptor (hT3Rbeta) were used to demonstrate the relationship between P-box sequence and DNA binding specificity by homodimers and heterodimers formed with the retinoid X receptor (RXR). In general, the formation of heterodimers relieved many of the constraints on the compatibility of hT3Rbeta P-box sequences with DNA binding. Effects were most dramatic for heterodimers bound to a direct repeat spaced by four base pairs. RXR also overrides the P-box-derived DNA binding specificity of hT3Rbeta when heterodimers are bound to inverted or everted repeat elements. These effects of RXR are most pronounced on AGGTCA half-sites but are squelched when the RXR partner of the heterodimer is bound to an AGGACA half-site. The influence of RXR on hT3Rbeta DNA binding specificity varies with the orientation of half-sites in the element, the identity of the fourth base pair of the half-site, and the spacing between the half-sites of direct repeats. These differences suggest that the DNA binding domains of RXR-hT3Rbeta heterodimers are not positioned equivalently on the various elements, affecting the manner in which the P-box amino acids of hT3Rbeta interact with base pairs within the half-site.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 3P6, Canada.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hendy
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Faris
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Romaniuk
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D001704:Biopolymers; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017510:Protein Folding; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D001704:Biopolymers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA