Activation function 1 of glucocorticoid receptor binds TATA-binding protein in vitro and in vivo.
The mechanism through which the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) stimulates transcription is still unclear, although it is clear that the GR affects assembly of the transcriptional machinery. The binding of the TATA-binding protein (TBP) to the TATA-box is accepted as essential in this process. It is known that the GR can interact in vitro with TBP, but the direct interaction of TBP with GR has not been previously characterized quantitatively and has not been appreciated as an important step in assembling the transcriptional complex. Herein, we demonstrate that the TBP-GR interaction is functionally significant by characterizing the association of TBP and GR in vitro by a combination of techniques and confirming the role of this interaction in vivo. Combined analysis, using native gel electrophoresis, sedimentation equilibrium, and isothermal microcalorimetry titrations, characterize the stoichiometry, affinity, and thermodynamics of the TBP-GR interaction. TBP binds recombinant GR activation function 1 (AF1) with a 1:2 stoichiometry and a dissociation constant in the nanomolar range. In vivo fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments, using fluorescently labeled TBP and various GR constructs, transiently transfected into CV-1 cells, show GR-TBP interactions, dependent on AF1. AF1-deletion variants showed fluorescence resonance energy transfer efficiencies on the level of coexpressed cyan fluorescent protein and yellow fluorescent protein, indicating that the interaction is dependent on AF1 domain. To demonstrate the functional role of the in vivo GR-TBP interaction, increased amounts of TBP expressed in vivo stimulated expression of GR-driven reporters and endogenous genes, and the effect was also specifically dependent on AF1.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, Texas 77555-1068, USA.
Alicja J
AJ
Copik
M Scott
MS
Webb
Aaron L
AL
Miller
Yongxin
Y
Wang
Raj
R
Kumar
E Brad
EB
Thompson
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011485:Protein Binding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D035181:TATA-Box Binding Protein / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection
D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D035181:TATA-Box Binding Protein